How to Send Email to Bcc Recipients in iPhone Mail

Reduce reply-all email chains by blind-copying a list of message recipients

The iOS Mail logo on an iPad

Heinz Tschabitscher

 

by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 19, 2019

If you're an iPhone Mail user and you want to send an email to more than one person, you can line them all up in the To field. A long list of email addresses not only makes for an unsightly, unwieldy message header, however; it also reveals all addresses to every recipient.

This procedure has been tested using iOS 12.

How to Blind Copy Recipients in iOS Mail

Use the Mail app's Bcc field to send blind copies:

  1. Create a new message, then tap the Cc/Bcc, From line to expand it. If you've only added a single email account to your iPhone, the line will show as Cc/Bcc only.

  2. Tap the Bcc line then add one or more addresses.

  3. Add at least one To addressee. To send it to yourself using the "Undisclosed Recipients" line, add a new contact called Undisclosed Recipients and use one of your own email addresses. This specific sender name is an informal internet standard to signify that the real distribution list has been blind copied.

    iOS Mail new-message window
    iOS Mail with the BCC line extended
    iOS Mail new-message window with a BCC addressee specified

  4. Compose and send your message as normal.

The people who receive your email won't be able to see any of the other addresses to which the email was sent. If appropriate, you can add a note to explain that your email was sent to other people; you might even include their names — but this way, you won't need to divulge their email addresses, or risk a cascade of reply-all correspondence.