Missing pictures in Gmail can result from external-image settings, a suspicious-message warning, or an unavailable image at the sender’s end. First determine whether Gmail is withholding a remote image or whether the message contains a broken image that cannot be loaded.
Check the message and the image control
For a message you expected from a verified sender, look for Display images below or a similar prompt. Loading that message’s images can help distinguish a per-message restriction from a general setting.
Do not enable images in an unexpected payment or account-alert email just to inspect its branding. A logo can be copied. Verify the sender and request independently before interacting with the message.
Review external-image settings
- On a computer, open Gmail’s Settings, then See all settings.
- In General, find Images.
- Choose Always display external images or Ask before displaying external images, according to your preference.
- Save changes and reopen a harmless message with a known image.
In the mobile app, use the Images setting for the relevant account; menus differ between Android and iPhone or iPad. Google’s guidance says Gmail can still withhold images in a suspicious message even when automatic display is enabled.
Separate image delivery from attachment problems
If other messages display correctly, the sender’s image URL may be unavailable, or their layout may reference content that is no longer accessible. Ask the sender for a corrected message or an accessible text alternative. An image pasted into HTML is not necessarily a normal file attachment.
Google scans and mediates image loading to reduce several risks, but notes that senders may sometimes learn that a message was opened. Choose automatic display with that distinction in mind. Do not install an image-unblocking extension, disable browser security, or change unrelated network settings. If the whole message fails to load, investigate that broader display problem separately.
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References
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.