Outlook Issue After Update

Question

Hi,

I need your advice and support regarding an issue that started after the Outlook update.

Previously, I could copy a file with pictures from Excel and paste it directly into the body of an Outlook email without any problems. However, after the update, the images no longer appear when the email is received by other users.

Here are the results of my testing:

• Mac to Mac: Images appear correctly.
• Windows to Mac: Images appear correctly.
• Mac to Windows: Images do not appear.
• Windows to Windows: Images do not appear.

This issue did not exist before the Outlook update. Since we regularly use the copy-and-paste method from Excel into the Outlook email body, this is affecting our daily work.

Could you please help investigate and fix this Outlook issue?

Thank you for your support.

Answer 1

Hi!

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Based from your tests it could really be an update related issue for Outlook however, there is no offical report regarding this issues. I suggest to check few settings first in Outlook so I can test it further.

First, can you opedn Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail and set compose messages in this format to HTML.

For any open message, select the Format Text tab and choose HTML in the Format group before pasting from Excel.

Next, use "Paste Special" instead of normal paste. Copy the Excel range. In Outlook select Paste ▼ → Paste Special.

Choose picture (Enhanced metafile) or Picture.

Lastly, send a test email to a Windows recipient or yourself if you have Outlook email.

Let me know what would be the result.

Answer 2

The described behavior matches known Outlook image/attachment regressions that occur after specific Outlook or platform updates. In all similar documented cases, the resolution has been to update Outlook (or the underlying OS) to a fixed build, or temporarily change how the content is composed.

Based on the available information, the following actions are supported:

1. Update Outlook/Office to a fixed build
   • Several image‑related issues in Outlook after updates were resolved by later builds. For example, embedded images in Rich Text emails being blanked out were fixed in Version 2101 Build 13609.10000 and later.
   • Verify the Outlook/Office version and update:
     1. Open Outlook.
     2. Select File > Office Account (or Account).
     3. Under Office Updates, check the version.
     4. If not on a current fixed build, select Update Options > Update Now.
2. Avoid Rich Text format when pasting from Excel
   • Known issues with images disappearing or being blanked out are tied to Rich Text formatted content.
   • Ensure messages are composed in HTML instead of Rich Text:
     • In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail and set Compose messages in this format to HTML.
     • For any open message, select the Format Text tab and choose HTML in the Format group before pasting from Excel.
3. If the issue persists on Windows only
   • Confirm that the Windows Outlook clients are fully updated to the latest Microsoft 365 Apps build, as fixes for image‑handling regressions are delivered through these updates.
   • If Windows clients are on an affected build and cannot be updated immediately, send the content as an attached file (for example, attach the Excel file or a saved image) as a temporary workaround.

If the environment is fully updated and messages are composed in HTML but images still disappear only after the recent update, this aligns with a product regression pattern that is typically addressed by a subsequent Outlook/Office update. In that case, keep Outlook on the latest update channel and monitor for the next build release that includes a fix.

---

References:

• Embedded images in Rich Text formatted emails or fields are being blanked out or misaligned
• An attachment does not appear in a Plain Text message in Outlook 2016