Send Newsletters and Emails With Images in Outlook

How to email newsletters as inline images in Outlook

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on September 11, 2020

When you send an email with inline images in older versions of Outlook, the pictures may show within the email message and as unattractive and unnecessary attachments to the email. Here's how to add newsletters or flyers as inline images in Outlook without the attachments, but only in certain versions of Outlook.

These instructions apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, and 2002.

Send Newsletters and Emails With Inline Images Not Attached in Outlook 2003 and 2002

For inline images to appear in emails without being attached to the email, the images must be downloaded from a remote server when the recipient opens the message. Outlook likes to go the safe route and won't display remote images if there's no internet connection when the email is opened or if the remote server is down. And, since remote images pose a privacy risk, many users disable these types of images.

To include inline images in newsletters and emails without attaching them in Outlook 2003 and 2002:

  1. Select Tools > Options from the menu in Outlook.

  2. Go to the Mail Format tab.

  3. Select Internet Format.

    Clear the When an HTML message contains pictures located on the Internet, send a copy of the pictures instead of the reference to their location check box.

  4. Select OK.

  5. Select OK again.

  6. Make sure the image is accessible over the internet. You can place it on your website, for example.

  7. Note the URL of the image. (For example, https://www.lifewire.com/static/3.27.2/image/illo_tangled_wire.svg.)

  8. Insert the image inline in an email in Outlook. Do not use the Browse option. Instead, paste the URL under Picture source.

  9. Complete the message or newsletter and send it to the mailing list or individual recipients.

Newsletters With Images in Outlook 2007

Outlook 2007 always sends copies of all inserted images as attachments. If you can't live with that fact, use an add-on to Outlook, such as PoliteMail, which allows you to send newsletters using remote images.

Newsletters With Images in Outlook 2010 and Later

In Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010, you can insert an inline picture into the body of an email without adding it as an attachment.

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