RSSApplies to: Microsoft Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003
When pictures in your email won’t download, even though you have Outlook configured to download external content (or allow it on a per-message basis), the problem is usually a “full” temporary file folder. It can also be caused by a secure proxy server or an invalid Temp folder path.
When the secure temp folder is the cause, the picture will show only the red x; it won’t include the text telling you to right click to download.
What exactly does “full” mean? The determination of Full is based on several factors, the most important is no more than 99 attachments of the same name in the folder (filename format of file(99).ext). The total number of attachments in the SecureTemp does not seem to be a factor (at least not under my personal record of nearly 9,000.) The amount of space allotted to the Temp Internet Folder is a factor but I haven’t figured out the specifics.
Note: If you do not see a red x but have a blank box shaped/sized like the graphic or photo, you have Show picture placeholders enabled.
Check your SecureTemp folder
You need to locate the SecureTemp folder and delete the contents (or the entire folder) then restart Outlook. The images should display correctly once you do this.
Outlook 2007, 2010, and 2013 on Windows 7/8, Vista:
* where 8A0VMD3A can be any random characters.
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\8A0VMD3A
Outlook 2007 & Outlook 2010 on Windows XP:
* where 8A0VMD3A can be any random characters.
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\8A0VMD3A
Outlook 2000 – 2003 on Windows 7/8 or Vista:
* The OLK directory will end in a series of numbers.
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK*
Outlook 2000 – 2003 on Windows XP:
* The OLK directory will end in a series of numbers.
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK*
To quickly jump to the Temporary Internet Folder (TIF) in Windows 7 or Vista, type shell:cache in the Start menu’s Search field and press Enter. This will open Windows Explorer to the TIF file. Outlook’s SecureTemp folder should be visible (Content.Outlook or OLK*). If not, go to Windows Explorer’s Organize, Folder and Search Options menu. On the View tab, enable the option to show Hidden Files and Folders.
See Outlook SecureTemp Files Folder to learn how it works and for the instructions to move the SecureTemp folder out of Temporary Internet Files.
The tools listed on this page make it easier to delete the orphaned attachments.
Verify the Temp path is correct in the registry
If the path in the path in the registry is not valid, you will have red x’s for images. Open the registry editor and verify the value in OutlookSecureTempFolder is correct and exists.
If you aren’t sure if the path is valid, right click on OutlookSecureTempFolder and Delete it, then restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate the value and a new SecureTemp folder.
The key in each version of Outlook is as follows:
Outlook 2013
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Security
Outlook 2010
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security
Outlook 2007
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Security
Outlook 2003
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security
Outlook 2002
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security
| Tools | |
|---|---|
A VBA sample you can use to delete the files in the SecureTemp folder each time you close Outlook or run it any time you want to delete the files. | |
OutlookTools is a support and advanced settings tool for Outlook. It gives you access to Outlook settings and data folders and allows you to change settings that are normally only possible through the registry. | |
Proxy Server Authentication
This issue affect users who access the Internet using a proxy server that is configured to use basic authentication.
When Outlook 2010 opens an HTML-formatted email message that contains an HTTP reference to an image that requires proxy authentication, Outlook won’t bring up the password dialog and the image won’t be displayed.
To address this, you need to set this registry key for Outlook 2010:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common DWORD: AllowImageProxyAuth Data value: 2
If you use Outlook 2007, you need to add AllowImageProxyAuth to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common
When the value is set to 1, you’re prompted for authentication once per Outlook session. If you cancel the authentication request, you are not prompted again during that Outlook session.
When the value is set to 2, you’re prompted for authentication as needed. Typically, this is once per Outlook session. However, you may be prompted multiple times under certain circumstances. If you cancel the authentication request for one image, you’ll be prompted for the next image that requires proxy authentication.
If the key is missing or set to 0, you will not be prompted for authentication, and the image might not be displayed.
Do It For Me
Ready to run registry files are available for Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2007. To use, download the correct registry file for your version of Outlook and double click on it to enter it into your registry.
AllowImageProxyAuth-2010 AllowImageProxyAuth-2007
More Information
Outlook SecureTemp Files Folder
More Shell shortcuts: Easy Access to System Folders in Windows 7 and Vista
An image in an HTML-formatted email message is not displayed in Outlook 2010 when you use a proxy server that is configured to use basic authentication (MSKB)
SOLUTION: Red X in Outlook Where Pictures Ought To Be
