Add links containing spaces to an e-mail message

Microsoft Windows supports long file names, including spaces. However, if you include a link to a file name with spaces in an e-mail message, Microsoft Outlook truncates the link at the first space. If the first space is in the network path or location of the file, the link is truncated at that point.

For example, if you type \\networkshare\February Expense Report.xls into the body of the message, Outlook converts only the first part of the text to a link, as in the following example:

\\networkshare\February

This is not a valid link to the file.

To preserve the spaces in your link text, use an opening and closing chevron, as in the following examples:

<\\networkshare\February Expense Report.xls> or <http://www.contoso.com/finance/February Expense Report.xls>

Outlook includes all text inside the chevrons as part of the link, and the recipient receives the complete link to the file.

Note: If you insert the link by using the Hyperlink command, then no truncation occurs. In a new message, on the Insert tab, in the Links group, click Link (if you are using Outlook 2016) or Hyperlink.