Images in emails show as red crosses or empty frames
Outlook blocks external images by default to limit tracking. Sometimes a reading-pane cache issue compounds it.
Try this first
- 1(In classic Outlook with the File menu. If new Outlook is in the way, toggle it off top-right.) Click 'Click here to download pictures' at the top of the message. That is per-mail.
- 2Always trust the sender? Outlook > File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Automatic Download. Uncheck 'Don't download pictures automatically' only if you are sure.
- 3Empty frames in your own sent mail? Close Outlook and clear the reading-pane cache at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook (older versions).
- 4Open the same message on outlook.office.com; if pictures load there, the message itself is fine.
When to bring us in
If a whole organisation sees no images, or messages that show images on web never in Outlook, a tenant or GPO setting may be at fault.
See also
- Outlook crashes or freezes on large attachmentsUsually the mailbox cache is the culprit, not Outlook itself. Shrinking or relocating usually helps within ten minutes.
- Teams: they cannot hear me, or I hear nothingIn our experience Teams usually picked the wrong audio device after a Windows update or a new headset.
- OneDrive has stopped syncingThe cloud icon is grey or has a warning. Locally changed files are not showing up for colleagues.
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