Description

Typically, blocking images in an email client can help protect your computer. Microsoft Outlook is configured by default to block automatic picture downloads from the Internet. As a user of Shield's zero-trust email protection, you can safely unblock images and use email as intended.

The Shield heads-up display (HUD) relies on image rendering, which behaves differently across Outlook clients. Only Classic Outlook for Desktop supports automatic image downloading without requiring the sender to be marked as trusted, allowing the Shield HUD to display immediately as an image. In newer Outlook clients, images are blocked by default, so users may need to trust the sender or manually allow images for the Shield HUD to appear visually rather than as text.

Image downloads are blocked for all emails in the Junk Email folder. This is a fixed function of the folder set by Microsoft and cannot be changed. If a Shield user needs to view the images of an email in the Junk Email folder, they can click on the HUD link to evaluate the message safely in X-ray.

Configuration Steps

Options vary slightly between Microsoft Outlook versions. 

Automatically Download the HUD

Outlook Desktop App (Classic)

This is the only client that supports true automatic image downloading.

1. Go to File > Options > Trust Center
2. Click Trust Center Settings
3. Select Automatic Download
4. Uncheck:
   • “Don’t download pictures automatically in HTML e-mail messages or RSS items”
     or
     Check:
   • “Allow automatic download of pictures in HTML e-mail messages”
5. Click OK

✅ Result: The Shield HUD displays automatically as an image.

Restricted Image Downloading of the HUD

New Outlook (Web & Desktop App)

Automatic image downloads are more restricted.

1. Click the Settings (gear) icon
2. Go to General > Privacy and data
3. Under External images, choose one of the following:
   • Always use the Outlook service to load images (recommended for security)
   • Load images from contacts or safe senders (if available)
4. Click Save

⚠️ Result: If the sender isn’t trusted, the Shield HUD may still require “Show blocked content.”

Outlook on the Web (outlook.com)

Image handling mirrors New Outlook behavior.

1. Click the Settings (gear) icon
2. Go to General > Privacy and data
3. Under External images, select your preferred option
   (for example, Always use the Outlook service)
4. Save your changes

Outlook for Mac

1. From the Outlook menu, select Settings > Reading
2. Under Download external images, choose:
   • Always
   • My contacts / organization / safe senders
   • Ask before downloading

If you need more help with a specific version of Outlook, Microsoft's support documentation will be most helpful. 

Updated December 26, 2025 21:12