Displaying images as attachments is a common problem. Unfortunately, the solution is not obvious for many reasons. For example, the problem may occur if the message is converted to plain text format or if there are issues with the email signature's HTML code. Finally, it can be caused by a specific Outlook configuration. This article will show how to ensure images are not displayed as attachments in each situation.

The most common reason images display as attachments is that some messages are sent in plain text format instead of HTML format. As the plain text does not support embedding or viewing images, all images are automatically attached to the message.

Automatic format change can happen either because of Outlook or Exchange Server settings:

If you're using Outlook 2010, 2013, and 2016, you can set all messages to be sent in HTML by default by going to File > Options > Mail > Compose messages and setting Compose messages in this format option to HTML.

If you're using Outlook 2007, you can do the same thing by going to Tools > Options > Mail Format and choosing HTML from the list next to Compose in this message format.

Additionally, it's important to note that the default message format is the same as the original message in the case of replies and forwards. If a plain text message is received, manually change the message format by clicking the Format Text tab on the ribbon and choosing HTML.

If you compose a message in the reading pane, make sure to click Pop Out button first:

Note: Outlook offers an option to receive all messages in plain text format. The side-effect of setting this option on is that all replies and forwards are also in this format by default. If you want to know how to turn this option off, go to the part of this guide: "The receiver converts all messages to the plain text format".

Your Exchange Server might convert outbound messages to the plain text format. It can happen on every Exchange Server and Office 365 with Exchange Online on-premises Exchange Server. By default, all messages are converted to the HTML format unless they are initially in the plain text format – in which case they continue to use simple text formatting. However, sometimes, especially in Office 365, some HTML-formatted messages are converted to plain text anyway. As it happens on the server level, Outlook cannot influence it. Luckily, there is a PowerShell cmdlet that lets you change this Exchange policy quickly:

Get-RemoteDomain | Set-RemoteDomain –ContentType MimeHtml
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This cmdlet should work on all emails sent outside the organization, converting them to HTML formatting.

Another option is that it is the recipient's fault. MS Outlook and some security programs may automatically convert all messages to plain text. If it is Outlook, above the message, there will be a note that says, "This message was converted to plain text." The message can be converted to HTML format by clicking the Infobar and choosing Display as HTML:

Automatic email conversion can be turned off in Trust Center settings under the E-mail Security tab, Read all standard mail in plain text by checking off the checkbox:

However, you do not influence the recipient's settings if you are the message's sender.

First, Outlook is known for its unique way of interpreting HTML code. One of the effects can be displaying images as attachments and not showing them in the message. This may happen if an image's width and height parameters differ from the actual image size. Therefore, you must ensure that your HTML email signature does not have such differences. Next, ensure your pictures have the proper resolution and resize them if necessary (You can use any image editor, like Paint, GIMP, or Photoshop). Then, add the width and height tags corresponding to the image's dimensions.

The email signature editor in Outlook does not let you modify the source HTML code. There is an easy way to edit Outlook email signatures, though:

1. If you have a signature created in Outlook, go to Mail options and click Signatures… while holding the Ctrl key:

2. A window with your defined signatures will open. Right-click it and choose a simple text editor like Notepad to edit the one you want. (For convenience, you could also use a more advanced code editor, like Notepad++).

3. All left is to find your img tag and change width and height attributes, if necessary.

This problem occurs mainly in older versions of Outlook (Outlook 2007 and 2010). However, it can also happen in Outlook 2013 and 2016 if some settings were migrated or if someone changed the Outlook configuration.

Usually, linked images should not become attachments – that's one of the differences between linked and embedded images. However, sometimes Outlook automatically downloads linked pictures and embeds them in the message. To change that behavior, you must make changes in the registry.

Note: Be careful when editing the registry. If you are unsure what you are doing, you can harm your computer or the programs you use. Be sure to always back up your registry before applying any changes.

1. Start Regedit with the "Win + R" key combination and type in Regedit.

2. The path you need to access is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\X\Outlook\Options\Mail

Note: X stands for your Outlook version; e.g., if you have Outlook 2016, it would be 16.0.

When you go through this location, you must either find or add the Send Pictures With Document REG_DWORD key and change its value to 0.

That's it. Your Outlook will only download the pictures after the message is sent.
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