• Outlook User
  • New Outlook app
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
  • Developer
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
    • Common Problems
    • Microsoft 365
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

Office365 Feature: URL Preview in OWA

Slipstick Systems

› Exchange Server › OWA › Office365 Feature: URL Preview in OWA

Last reviewed on May 1, 2019     15 Comments

Applies to: Outlook.com

Link preview adds a small preview snippet to the message when you paste a URL into the email message. The preview snippet is like the URL preview in Facebook, Twitter, and Yammer. It's pretty cool and makes me almost want to use OWA. I have no idea if or when it will make it into Outlook.

Paste a URL into a message and Exchange goes out and gets a preview of the webpage:
OWA URL preview

To disable Link Preview, click on the Gear icon, Options, then select Link Preview under the Mail section.
disable preview links

You can also disable Link Preview by setting the email format to plain text.

Use PowerShell to disable Link Preview

Administrators can use PowerShell to disable link preview for users. These cmdlets were shared by Sperry

To disable this for individual users you can run the following PowerShell command.

Set-MailboxMessageConfiguration -identity -LinkPreviewEnabled $false

Link preview can be disabled for all users using this command.

Get-Mailbox -ResultSize unlimited | Set-MailboxMessageConfiguration -LinkPreviewEnabled $false

More Information

Another new feature is an Inline player, which allows you to view video content in OWA email.

These two article discuss other new features (as of December 2014). Client library for Office 365 admin reporting web service now available

Introducing built-in mobile device management for Office 365

Office365 Feature: URL Preview in OWA was last modified: May 1st, 2019 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • Disable Live Preview in Outlook and Word
  • Outlook's Modern Attachments Feature
  • Office365: Set account passwords to never expire
  • How to save a message to My Documents when you are using OWA.
    OWA: Save Messages to My Documents

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Subscribe
Notify of
15 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Jim
November 18, 2016 1:40 pm

Is the derivation of the preview for a Drupal webpage documented? I am having trouble controlling the content in my link preview.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Jim
February 6, 2017 1:37 am

I don't think they documented it - but as long as they can connect to the link, it should "just work".

0
0
Reply
Mark
June 2, 2016 12:29 pm

I'd advise users to disable this and this should be the default setting (make it opt in). I went to send an email with a link to a client and ended up with a pornographic image being shown.

If I wasn't paying full attention I would've at worst lost a client and at best been made a fool. This is reminiscent of the Gmail Mic Drop debacle, which caused a great deal of anguish.

BTW, the link used https://quickbooks.intuit.com/tutorials/add-customer-data/ is a totally legitimate website and I would imagine that Intuit would be equally horrified if they learnt of this image being associated with their company.

I'm perplexed how this even occurred and without being able to review the algorithm we'll never know. But if Microsoft want to persist with this Link Preview feature there needs to be a button to report inappropriate content.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Mark
October 18, 2016 12:14 am

no idea how it happened, unless the url was mistyped - they go out and pull in the url that was typed in.

0
0
Reply
Thor
January 19, 2016 9:12 pm

This feature is annoying and ridiculous. Someone in a company I do Messaging Admin for was about to lose his job because a link he wrote in an email got with an inappropriate picture.
But perhaps the most stupid thing is that it cannot be disabled.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Thor
January 19, 2016 11:21 pm

It can be disabled - go to OWA's options > Mail > Link Preview and disable it.

0
0
Reply
Sperry
Reply to  Thor
January 26, 2016 3:38 pm

To disable this for individual users you can run the following powershell command.
Set-MailboxMessageConfiguration -identity -LinkPreviewEnabled $false
The link preview can be disabled for all users using the following command.
Get-Mailbox -ResultSize unlimited | Set-MailboxMessageConfiguration -LinkPreviewEnabled $false

1
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Sperry
January 26, 2016 5:17 pm

Thanks. I kept meaning to look the powershell commands up and got side tracked with more questions. :)

0
0
Reply
Jeff
November 6, 2015 7:07 pm

The preview feature is a joke and a nuisance. There is no way to disable it but to change to plain text email. The fact that this can't be disabled is ridiculous.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Jeff
November 7, 2015 12:08 am

While you can't disable it outgoing messages, you can click Remove preview to remove it from the message.

0
-1
Reply
Rob
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
December 11, 2015 6:22 am

Every time I reply to a chain of emails, all the links in the signatures of the people in the chain get replaced with url previews of their company's websites. I have to go and click on "remove preview" on all of them!

I Agree with Jeff, it's a joke.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Rob
December 11, 2015 3:34 pm

Options now has an option to turn preview on and off -
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#path=/options/linkpreview

0
0
Reply
Patricia
July 27, 2015 12:50 pm

I really do not like this "preview" feature. It is very annoying!!!

0
0
Reply
Saran Kumar Kanaparthi
March 3, 2015 2:09 am

Hi Diane,
Hope you are doing well,

I have a small query relating to Outlook 365 OWA, I am using it as a client based webmail, every day I used to send alot of mails to different people, I just want to check is there any possibility to get a macro for sending the mail, like just updating the fields in excel and clicking the Macro to send the mails.

Please give your comments.. Thanks in advance..

Best Regards
Saran

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Saran Kumar Kanaparthi
March 4, 2015 12:45 am

No, not in OWA. Sorry. You'd need to use a desktop client.

0
0
Reply

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Vol. 30 Issue 36

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Support Services

Do you need help setting up Outlook, moving your email to a new computer, migrating or configuring Office 365, or just need some one-on-one assistance?

Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • Use Classic Outlook, not New Outlook
  • How to Hide or Delete Outlook's Default Folders
  • How to Remove the Primary Account from Outlook
  • This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions
  • Removing Suggested Accounts in New Outlook
  • Reset the New Outlook Profile
  • iCloud error: Outlook isn't configured to have a default profile
  • Adjusting Outlook's Zoom Setting in Email
  • Add Holidays to Outlook's Calendar
  • Online Services in Outlook: Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, AOL, GoDaddy
  • Opt out of Microsoft 365 Companion Apps
  • Mail Templates in Outlook for Windows (and Web)
  • Urban legend: Microsoft Deletes Old Outlook.com Messages
  • Buttons in the New Message Notifications
  • Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically
  • Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell
  • Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook
  • Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail
  • Import EML Files into New Outlook
  • Opening PST files in New Outlook
Ajax spinner

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook (Windows).

For new Outlook for Windows: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in new Outlook for Windows .

Outlook for Mac Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Mac

Outlook.com Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Office Update History

Update history for supported Office versions is at Update history for Office

Outlook Suggestions and Feedback

Outlook Feedback covers Outlook as an email client, including Outlook Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows clients, as well as the browser extension (PWA) and Outlook on the web.

Outlook (new) Feedback. Use this for feedback and suggestions for Outlook (new).

Use Outlook.com Feedback for suggestions or feedback about Outlook.com accounts.

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




New Outlook Articles

Opt out of Microsoft 365 Companion Apps

Mail Templates in Outlook for Windows (and Web)

Urban legend: Microsoft Deletes Old Outlook.com Messages

Buttons in the New Message Notifications

Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail

Import EML Files into New Outlook

Opening PST files in New Outlook

Newest Code Samples

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Change the Mailing Address Using PowerShell

Categorize @Mentioned Messages

Send an Email When You Open Outlook

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Submit Outlook Feature Requests

Slipstick Support Services

Buy Microsoft 365 Office Software and Services

Visit Slipstick Forums.

What's New at Slipstick.com

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2025 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

:wpds_smile::wpds_grin::wpds_wink::wpds_mrgreen::wpds_neutral::wpds_twisted::wpds_arrow::wpds_shock::wpds_unamused::wpds_cool::wpds_evil::wpds_oops::wpds_razz::wpds_roll::wpds_cry::wpds_eek::wpds_lol::wpds_mad::wpds_sad::wpds_exclamation::wpds_question::wpds_idea::wpds_hmm::wpds_beg::wpds_whew::wpds_chuckle::wpds_silly::wpds_envy::wpds_shutmouth:
wpDiscuz

Sign up for Exchange Messaging Outlook

Our weekly Outlook & Exchange newsletter (bi-weekly during the summer)






Please note: If you subscribed to Exchange Messaging Outlook before August 2019, please re-subscribe.

Never see this message again.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment