Winmail.dat is attached to email instead of a .pdf file when sent from QuickBooks through Outlook

Learn what to do when Winmail.dat file is received instead of a .pdf file when sending an email through Outlook from QuickBooks Desktop.

Recipients of files sent through QuickBooks receive an attachment called Winmail.dat instead of a .pdf file. This is a known issue for Microsoft outlook if the recipient's email client is not capable of receiving rich text format (.rtf).

To learn more about email message formats, check out How email message formats affect Internet email messages in Outlook.

If only one or some customers experience this issue, it can be due to a problem on the receiving end. Certain security and mail filters may detect these emails as mass emailing (spam) and must be adjusted accordingly.

Solution 1: Change the message format in Outlook

Choosing either HTML or plain text can prevent Outlook from attaching a Winmail.dat file when you send an email.  To learn more about the detailed steps, check out Change the message format to HTML, Rich Text Format, or plain text.

Solution 2: Use email other than Outlook

For detailed instructions on how to use another email, check out  Set up your email service in QuickBooks Desktop.