Block or unblock automatic picture downloads in e-mail messages


To help protect you from junk e-mail senders, Microsoft Outlook is configured by default to block automatic picture downloads from the Internet. This article explains why blocking pictures can help protect your computer and how you can unblock pictures you feel are safe to download.

Advantages of blocking automatic picture downloads include:


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

· Helping 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.


For information on how "spammers" and other junk e-mail senders attempt to collect information from you and possibly harm the data on your computer see What are Web beacons, and how do they generate more spam?


In this article


· Unblock picture downloads for a single message

· Unblock picture downloads for all messages

· Unblock picture downloads for all messages from a specific e-mail 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 “ Info Bar” at the top of the message, and then click Download Pictures.

· Description: nfoBar

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.


Unblock picture downloads for all messages


1. On the Tools menu, click Trust Center, and then click Automatic Download.

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


Unblock picture downloads for all messages from a particular e-mail address or domain


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

2. On the shortcut menu, click Add Sender to Safe Senders List or Add the Domain @domain to Safe Senders List.


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