Insert pictures in email messages or calendar events in Outlook.com

You can insert pictures from your computer or from OneDrive into email messages and calendar events in Outlook.com.

Insert a picture in an email or in a calendar event

You can insert pictures—photos and graphics—into email messages to share them with others, or you can add them to meeting requests (calendar events). There are two ways you can insert a picture: inline or as an attachment. Inline pictures are displayed directly in the body of the email or the meeting notice. A recipient is alerted that a message includes an attachment by the display of an Attach icon above the message.

To insert a picture inline in an email

1. Open a new email message or respond to an existing one.

2. On the mini toolbar that's part of the message form, choose Insert pictures inline .

3. Choose one of the following:

   • Computer
     
     Find the picture you want to insert in your email message, and then choose Open.

   • OneDrive
     
     Select the picture you want show in the body of your email message, and then choose Insert.

   Tips: Regardless of the source of the picture, you can resize it when it appears in the body of the message. Hover over the picture, right-click, choose Size, and then choose one of the following:

   • Small

   • Best Fit

   • Original

4. Choose Send when you're done.

To attach a picture to an email

1. Open a new email message or respond to an existing one.

2. On the top nav bar, choose Attach , and then choose one of the following:

   • OneDrive
     
     Select the picture you want to attach, choose Next, and then choose one of the following:

     • Attach as a OneDrive file

     • Attach as a copy

   • Computer
     
     Find the picture you want to attach, select it, choose Open, and then choose one of the following:

     • Upload and attach as a OneDrive file

     • Attach as a copy

   Note: An icon and name of the attached picture is shown below the subject of the email message.

3. Choose Send when you're done.

To add an inline picture to a calendar event

1. Open your calendar.

2. Choose New.

3. Fill in the calendar Details form and in the message window, type your message.

4. On the formatting toolbar in the message window, choose Insert pictures inline .

5. Go to the folder that contains the picture you want to add inline, select the picture, and then choose Open.

   Tips: You can resize the inserted picture. Hover over the picture, right-click, choose Size, and then choose one of the following:

   • Small

   • Best Fit

   • Original

6. In the People box, add people to build your list of attendees.

7. Choose Send when you're done.

   .

To add an attachment to a calendar event

1. Open your calendar.

2. On the nav bar, choose the down arrow > Calendar event.

3. Fill in the calendar Details form and in the message window, type your message.

4. On the top nav bar, choose Attach .

5. Choose one of the following:

   • OneDrive
     
     Go to the folder that contains the picture you want to attach to your calendar event. Choose the picture, choose Next, and then choose one of the following:

     • Attach as a OneDrive file

     • Attach as a copy

   • Computer
     
     Find the picture you want to attach to your calendar event, select it, choose Open, and then choose Attach as a copy.

   Notes: 

   Attachments are shown immediately above the message window.

6. In the People box, add people to build your list of attendees.

7. Choose Send when you're done.

Tips for handling attachments

• Don't open or automatically forward an attachment sent in an email message unless you trust the sender and the content. Attachments are a common method for spreading computer viruses. We recommend using the Preview option, if available, to view your attachments.

• If you reply to a message that has an attachment, the attachment isn't included in the reply. You can, however, forward the message to include the attachment.

• Long file names of attachments can appear shortened in Outlook.com. Shortening the name doesn't affect the contents of the file.