How to Add an Email to a Task in Outlook

You can add an email to a task in Outlook either by creating a new task directly from the email or by linking the email to an existing task.

Creating a New Task from an Email

One of the most efficient ways to ensure an email is associated with a task is to turn the email itself into a task. This method is quick and automatically includes the email's content in the new task item.

As the tip suggests, you can simply drag an email into the To Do pane to create a new task.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open Outlook and navigate to your email view (e.g., your Inbox).
2. Ensure your To Do pane or Tasks list is visible. You can usually toggle this view on or off from the 'View' tab or by clicking the Tasks icon in the navigation pane.
3. Locate the specific email you want to convert into a task.
4. Click and drag the email from your email list directly into the To Do pane or the area showing your task list.
5. Outlook will instantly create a new task item. The subject line of the email will become the task's subject, and the full body of the email will be included in the task description.
6. You can then open this newly created task to add details like a due date, reminder, priority level, or assign it.

Linking an Email to an Existing Task

If you already have a task created and wish to associate an email with it (e.g., for reference or context), you can link the email to the existing task item.

There are a couple of common methods for doing this:

Method 1: Dragging onto the Task Item

1. Find the existing task in your Tasks list or To Do pane.
2. Navigate back to your email view and find the desired email.
3. Click and drag the email from your email list directly onto the existing task item in the Tasks list or To Do pane.
4. Outlook will typically attach the email as an Outlook Item within the existing task's details.

Method 2: Using 'Insert Item' within the Task

1. Double-click the existing task to open it in its own window.
2. In the task window, go to the 'Insert' tab.
3. In the 'Include' group, click on 'Outlook Item'.
4. In the 'Insert Item' dialog box, browse through your Outlook folders (like your Inbox, Sent Items, etc.) to locate the specific email you want to link.
5. Select the email. Under 'Options', choose how you want the item inserted. Selecting 'Attachment' is the most common way to link the original email file.
6. Click 'OK'. The selected email will be added to the body of your task as an attachment.

Why Link Emails to Tasks?

Associating emails with tasks helps you:

• Keep Information Centralized: All relevant communication and context for a task are in one place.
• Streamline Workflow: Easily reference necessary details without searching through your inbox.
• Enhance Clarity: Understand the full background of a task quickly.

By using these methods, you can effectively integrate your email communications with your task management in Outlook, ensuring important information is always linked to the actions you need to take.