Applies To
Outlook for Microsoft 365

Last Updated: June 5, 2026

ISSUE

When you include an image in an email or a newsletter or as part of a signature, you find that the image is not displayed. The image may include a red x and an error but not in all cases. This issue occurs in all supported versions of classic Outlook after applying the May 12, 2026 updates.

An error on the image may display with the following: 

“The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location.”

Loading image error in Outlook

To check if this is the issue you are having, do the following: 

  1. Open the email in classic Outlook.

  2. On the ribbon, select Move > Actions Other ActionsView Source.

  3. Search the email for cid within src attribute in v:imagetdata tag, example:

    <v:imagedata src=cid:image001.png@01DCE6B1.CF669A40 o:title="" />

If you have an image like this and it’s not rendering, you're experiencing this issue. Images in the original message should be fine once a fix is released for this issue. Replies or Forwards to these messages may permanently lack the image because it did not get included.

STATUS: FIXED

The Word Team released a fix for the issue. The fixed builds are listed below. To check builds available to channels, please go to​​​​​​​ Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps (listed by date).

For the channels that do not have the fixed build yet, we expect the fix to be released with the June 9th public updates.  

Fixed Builds: Version 2606 Build 20120.15000 (fix is now in Beta Channel with build 20120.20000+) Version 2606 Build 20131.20000  Version 2605 Build 20026.20118 (fix is now in Current Channel with build 20026.20140) Version 2604 Build 19929.20202 Version 2603 Build 19822.20272  Version 2602 Build 19725.20370 Version 2508 Build 19127.20666 Word 2016 Build 5556.1004 Word 2019 Build 10417.20145 Word 2021 Build 14334.20714 Word 2024 Build 17932.20814

Additional Resources

Layout options

Change default text wrap setting for images

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See Also

Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook for Windows

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