Fix Gmail or Outlook email signature image not showing

If you are using Gmail or Outlook email service, but find that your signature image is not showing on your computer or the recipient’s computer, here are some common fixes to eliminate this issue. Although it is not a regular problem, users can sometimes encounter this weird issue.

Gmail or Outlook email signature image not showing

To fix this issue where your Gmail or Outlook signature image is not showing, follow these suggestions-

1. Choose the correct signature
2. Disable Plain text mode
3. Check the permission of Google Drive image
4. Keep the signature photo live
5. Verify web image address
6. Recipient has to download the image manually
7. Create a new signature.

1] Choose the correct signature (Gmail)

Gmail allows users to create multiple signatures to be used in different situations. If you have created more than one signature, you might often get confused. Let’s assume that the text of the two signatures is the same, but the image is different Then, there is a chance of misunderstanding. Therefore, before getting started with other solutions, it is better to verify whether you have selected the correct signature or not.

2] Disable Plain text mode (Gmail, Outlook)

By default, Gmail and Outlook use HTML to customize your email body. There are an advantage and disadvantage of this formatting. The disadvantage is you may not be able to insert an image in your signature. If you are using Plain text mode, now is time to turn it off. If you are using Gmail, click the three-dotted button before the trash bin icon and deselect Plain text mode.

If you are Outlook.com, click the three-dotted icon in the compose email window, and select the Switch to HTML option.

3] Check the permission of Google Drive image (Gmail)

By default, Gmail doesn’t store the image as Outlook does. It stores all signature images on Google Drive, as it is the native cloud storage. Although it doesn’t create an issue if you insert an image directly from Google Drive, it is better to verify this setting.

You should check whether the image is given the required permission. In case you made some changes earlier, this step is handy to fix the issue.

Read: Commonly used email addresses and service providers.

4] Keep the signature photo live (Gmail)

Let’s assume that you are using an image from Google Drive and you have deleted the photo after setting up the signature. In that case, you might get a similar error as mentioned in this article. To continue using the image in your signature, you should keep the photo live in your Google Drive storage.

5] Verify web image address (Gmail)

Gmail lets you insert an image from the web. Let’s assume that you have a website and want to use the website’s logo in your email signature. This is possible when you can get the exact image URL. If you do that, you must have to keep the image address live. If you change the image URL or delete it, you might not find the same in your signature.

6] Recipient has to download the image manually (Gmail, Outlook)

Some email clients do not automatically download the email attachments and inserted media files, such as images. There are two reasons – it prevents an attacker from injecting malicious files and saves some bandwidth.

If you can see the signature image but the recipient can’t or vice versa, you or the recipient have/has to download the email’s images. Although it depends on the email client, it is a common security feature.

7] Create a new signature (Gmail, Outlook)

It is better to create a new signature with a new image when nothing’s working for you. If you don’t know the process, follow these guides to create an email signature in Microsoft Outlook and Gmail.

These are some of the working solutions to fix this issue.