Why would images stop showing in a document that previously displayed them?

Common causes include: moving the image file to a different folder (breaking the link), disabled image display in Word settings, corrupted image files, or document file corruption. Most causes are fixable.

Is there a difference between embedded images and linked images in Word?

Embedded images are stored inside the .docx file itself, so they always display if the .docx isn't corrupted. Linked images reference external files, so if those files are moved or deleted, the links break. Check which type you have via right-clicking the image.

How do I know if my images are embedded or linked?

Right-click an image placeholder or missing image. Select 'Links' or check the context menu. If the menu shows 'Link,' the image is linked to an external file. If there's no Link option, it's embedded.

Fix: Word Images Not Showing or Displaying

The Problem

Images in your Word document aren’t displaying—you see blank spaces or gray boxes where images should be. The document previously showed images correctly, or images aren’t showing after opening a file from someone else. You need to restore image visibility.

Quick Fix

Enable image display:

Go to File > Options
Click “Advanced”
Scroll down to “Show Document Content”
Check “Show background colors and images”
Click OK

If images are still missing, proceed to Step-by-Step Solution.

Step-by-Step Solution

Method 1: Enable Image Display in Word Options

Word can disable image display to improve performance with large documents.

Step 1: Go to File in the ribbon.

Step 2: Click Options.

Step 3: Click “Advanced” in the left menu.

Step 4: Scroll down to find the section labeled “Show Document Content” or “Display Options.”

Step 5: Look for a checkbox labeled “Show background colors and images” or “Print background colors and images.”

Step 6: Ensure both are checked.

Step 7: You may also see “Show pictures and background colors” or similar.

Step 8: Check all image-related display options.

Step 9: Click OK.

Step 10: Return to your document. Images should now display.

Method 2: Check for Linked Images with Broken Links

Linked images display a placeholder if the link is broken.

Step 1: Right-click where an image should be (on the blank space or box).

Step 2: Look at the context menu options.

Step 3: If you see “Edit Links” or “Links” option, this is a linked image.

Step 4: Click “Edit Links” or “Links.”

Step 5: A dialog shows all linked files and their status.

Step 6: Look for “Source file not found” or “Source file unavailable” messages.

Step 7: For broken links, click “Change Source.”

Step 8: Navigate to where the image file is actually located.

Step 9: Select the image file.

Step 10: Click Open.

Step 11: The link is restored and the image displays.

Step 12: If you have many broken links, consider embedding images instead (see Method 4).

Method 3: Re-Insert Images from Backup

If images are truly missing, re-insert them from backups or original sources.

Step 1: Identify where images were supposed to appear in your document.

Step 2: Position your cursor at that location.

Step 3: Go to Insert > Pictures > This Device (or From This Computer).

Step 4: Navigate to where your image files are stored.

Step 5: Select the image you want to insert.

Step 6: Click Insert.

Step 7: The image reappears in your document.

Step 8: Repeat for each missing image.

Step 9: Save the document.

Method 4: Convert Linked Images to Embedded Images

Embedded images are more reliable since they’re stored in the document.

Step 1: Right-click a linked image (or its placeholder).

Step 2: Select “Edit Links” from the context menu.

Step 3: In the Links dialog, select the image link you want to embed.

Step 4: Look for a “Break Link” button.

Step 5: Click it.

Step 6: You’ll be asked if you want to break the link. Click Yes.

Step 7: The image converts from linked to embedded.

Step 8: The image is now stored in your .docx file and won’t depend on external files.

Step 9: Repeat for all linked images you want to embed.

Method 5: Repair Embedded Images

If embedded images aren’t displaying, the .docx file structure might be corrupted.

Step 1: Save your document (Ctrl+S).

Step 2: Close the document.

Step 3: Open File Explorer and navigate to the document.

Step 4: Right-click the document file.

Step 5: Select “Open with” > Word.

Step 6: If it opens but images still don’t show, close it.

Step 7: Try: File > Open, locate the document, click the dropdown next to Open, and select “Open and Repair.”

Step 8: Let Word repair the file.

Step 9: If it succeeds, images may now display.

Step 10: If it doesn’t work, proceed to Method 6.

Method 6: Extract and Rebuild Document

As a last resort, extract the document’s contents and rebuild it.

Step 1: Save your document and make a backup.

Step 2: Rename the .docx file to .zip extension (right-click > Rename).

Step 3: Extract the .zip to a folder (right-click > Extract).

Step 4: Inside the extracted folder, navigate to word > media.

Step 5: This “media” folder contains all embedded images.

Step 6: Copy these images to a safe location on your desktop.

Step 7: Create a new blank Word document.

Step 8: Copy text from the original document (skip the blank image areas for now).

Step 9: Paste the text into the new document.

Step 10: Now re-insert the images you copied from the media folder using Insert > Pictures.

Step 11: This effectively rebuilds the document without corruption.

Step 12: Save the new document with a different filename.

Why This Happens

Image display disabled: Word can disable image display to reduce file size or improve performance.

Broken linked image paths: If the original image file moved, the link breaks.

Corrupted embedded images: The .docx file’s image data becomes corrupted.

Unsupported image format: Very old image formats may not display in current Word versions.

Document corruption: Overall file corruption affects image display.

Protected View: Images sometimes don’t display in Protected View mode.

How to Prevent It

Embed images instead of linking: Use Insert > Pictures and choose “Insert” rather than “Link to File” to embed images.

Store images in predictable locations: Keep image files in a project folder that doesn’t move.

Use relative paths: If you must link images, use relative paths so links work if the entire project folder moves.

Backup documents with images: Since embedded images increase file size, backup documents regularly to prevent loss.

Test after moving files: If you move image files, always test that links still work.

Still Not Working?

Check Print Layout view: Some views don’t display images. Go to View > Print Layout to ensure you’re in the correct view.

Disable Protected View: File > Options > Trust Center > Protected View and uncheck all Protected View options.

Update Word: Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now to ensure you have the latest Office version.

Check document properties: Right-click the document > Properties and verify the file type is .docx not .doc or corrupted format.

Reinstall Office: As a last resort, uninstall Office, restart, and reinstall.