To show an image at a particular point in a Gmail message, insert it into the message body rather than treating it only as a separate file attachment. Use the computer web composer and verify the result; recipient applications can still present embedded image parts differently.
Prepare the image and composer
Use an image you are permitted to share and check that it contains no private information you did not intend to disclose. Keep a suitable file size. If you want rich-text placement, review the composer’s plain text mode before inserting the image.
Place the cursor where the picture should appear in the message. Do not assume selecting the paperclip’s attachment action creates an inline image at that location.
Use a documented inline route
Google’s Gmail accessibility guide documents copying an image and pasting it into the message body with the platform’s paste command. It says copied image files are placed inline by default, while activating Attach Files first uses the attachment route.
After pasting, check that the image appears between the intended paragraphs. If the result is a file attachment instead, inspect the insertion context rather than repeatedly adding duplicate copies. Keep only the version that matches the message you intend to send.
Keep the message readable
Adjust the displayed image size if necessary and include meaningful surrounding text. Google’s guide also describes an Edit alt text control for an inline image. Use a concise description when it helps convey the image’s purpose.
Do not place an essential address, deadline, or instruction only inside a picture. A recipient may block image display or use a reading setup that handles the image differently.
Check delivery presentation
Send a non-sensitive test if the layout matters, and inspect it at a normal phone width. An inline image may also appear in another client’s attachment list; that alone does not prove insertion failed. An embedded image is not protected from copying merely because it sits inside the text. Review the recipients and actual image contents before the final send, and use a separately attached document when preserving an original file is the real requirement.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Use Gmail with a screen reader
- Send attachments with your Gmail message
- Format your messages
- Turn images on or off in Gmail
Reviewed against the linked official and developer guidance on October 27, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.