Change whether pictures in messages are automatically downloaded

By default, Outlook 2013 later blocks pictures which are downloaded from the internet.

The advantages of blocking automatic picture downloads include the following:

• Helps you avoid viewing potentially offensive material (when external content is linked to the message).

• Helps to keep malicious code from damaging the data on your computer.

• If you are on a low-bandwidth connection, blocking allows you to decide whether a particular image warrants the time and bandwidth that are required for downloading it.

Pictures in email messages that are actually linked and downloaded from the Internet can also be used as a way to confirm that you opened the message. This is known as a web beacon. For example, a junk email sender can confirm that they have reached an active email address when the picture in the message is downloaded.

In this article

Unblock picture downloads for a single message

Unblock picture downloads for all messages

Unblock picture downloads for all messages from an email address or domain

Unblock picture downloads for a single message

You can unblock downloads of linked pictures and other external content for a single message that comes from a source that you trust:

• Click the InfoBar at the top of the message, and then click Download Pictures.

Note: When you click Download Pictures in a message that you are previewing in the Reading Pane, the message is automatically saved and displays the pictures again the next time that you open the message. When you click Download Pictures in an open message, if you want the message to display the pictures the next time that you open the message, you must save the message.

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Unblock picture downloads for all messages

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Options.

3. Click Trust Center.

4. Under Microsoft Outlook Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings.

5. Clear the Don't download pictures automatically in HTML e-mail messages or RSS items check box.

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Unblock picture downloads for all messages from an email address or domain

1. In an open message that was sent from that email address or domain, right-click one of the blocked items.

2. Click Add Sender to Safe Senders List or Add the Domain @domain to Safe Senders List.

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