Now that Outlook has officially replaced the Mail app on Windows operating systems it's pretty much become the only Mail tool people are using. But there are quite a few issues with it besides the annoying ads you'll see at the top of your inbox. The primary one is images not showing in the Inbox so follow along as we take you through the steps you can use to solve this problem.

Takeaways:

  1. Learn how to fix images not appearing in the Outlook mail app on Windows.
  2. Why don't images load in the Outlook email app?

How to Fix Image Display Issues in Outlook Email on Windows

Before you start any of the steps below make sure you run through these quick fixes. Make sure your firewall isn't blocking anything. Then do the same for proxies and your VPN. In Outlook, you can right-click the placeholder to select Download Pictures or adjust settings for trusted senders to display images automatically.

By default, Outlook blocks automatic downloads of images to prevent tracking. You can, however, enable images for trusted senders or individual emails:

  • To enable image downloads in a specific email: Open the email, right-click the placeholder, and select “Download Pictures.”
  • To allow downloads from trusted senders permanently:

Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.

Select Automatic Download.

Uncheck Don’t download pictures automatically in standard HTML email messages or RSS items and Don’t download pictures in encrypted or signed HTML email messages.

Note: If an email is in plain text format, images won’t display. To view images, go to the Format Text tab and switch to HTML or Rich Text.

Modify the BlockHTTPimages Registry Setting

If images still don’t display when you manually download them, you might see an error: “The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted.” This can happen if the image link is broken, or if system or network settings block the image source.

To fix this, adjust the BlockHTTPimages setting in the registry:

  • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  • Navigate to the path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<x.0>\Common (where <x.0> matches your Outlook version, e.g., 16.0 for Outlook 2021)

  • Double-click on BlockHTTPimages and set its Value data to 0. Alternatively, right-click and select Delete.
  • Exit the Registry Editor, then restart Outlook.

Note: Be cautious when modifying the registry, as it can impact system performance. Always back up the registry before making changes.

Additional Tips: Displaying Contact Photos in Outlook

To show contact photos in Outlook, go to File > Options > People and ensure Show user photographs when available is enabled. If using Cached Exchange Mode, outdated profile information may cause missing images. Toggle Cached Mode off, restart Outlook, and then enable Cached Mode again to refresh.