MS Word Not Displaying Images – Causes & Fixes

It can be a bit confusing to open a Word document to discover that the images you added are no longer available. Usually, word documents allow you to add pictures for context, which are visible in the structure itself. However, this error has taken over a lot of PCs as several users have shared that the Word document is not displaying images. 

Why does it Happen? Well, for starters, sometimes the image you add is not in the supported format. But that is not the only thing causing the error. Some of the main issues that result in images disappearing from Word documents as expected are – 

• Outdated Graphics Card
• Improper Linking/Embedding of Image
• Misconfigured Word Settings

If you feel any of these issues are affecting your pictures or causing issues with your documents, do not worry- in this post, we are going to help you out! Check out the fixes we have curated to help you resolve the pictures not showing in Word.

Ways to Fix MS Word Not Displaying Images! 100% Working

First, you should ensure you are using the correct application to open the document. Sometimes, alternatives like WPS are used instead of MS Word, which may make a difference in opening all the resources. Secondly, you should check the format of the images attached to the document. If you have attached them and they are not showing up on the receiver’s PC, it may be possible that they are not using the latest version of the software. 

After taking care of these things, if Word not displaying images, or an issue persists, check out the fixes that you can try – 

Fix 1 – Make the Following Changes in Your Word Settings

If you cannot see the images in a Word document, several picture-related options must be tweaked. These are –

1. Enable “Show drawings and text boxes on the screen” Option

Follow the given path in MS Word to find the option and disable the feature –

File > Options > Advanced > Show Document Content > Show drawings and text boxes on screen > Print drawings created in Word. Click OK to save.

2. Enable “Print drawings created in Word”

Follow the given path in MS Word to find the option and disable the feature –

 File > Options > Display > Printing options > Print drawings created in Word. Click OK to save.

3. Disable “Use draft quality”

Follow the given path in MS Word to find the option and disable the feature –

File > Options > Advanced >Printing >  Use the draft quality. Use OK to save the changes.

4. Disable “Picture Placeholders options”

Follow the given path in MS Word to find the option and disable the feature – 

File > Options > Advanced > Show document content > Show picture placeholders section. Use the OK to save the changes.

After changing these features, try opening the document again, and you can see the images as you had expected. 

Fix 2 – Update the Graphics Drivers

Sometimes, the visual capabilities of your PC are often the reason why you are not getting accurate things displayed on your PC. The reluctance that appears due to an outdated graphics driver is evident, especially with pictures and visuals on your PC. Try updating the drivers on your PC to ensure this is not the case. 

If you know how to update the drivers, you are familiar with the complexity of the process. Going to the device manager, finding out the drivers, checking for updates, and then waiting for it to finish is a long process no one wants to go through. That is why, we recommend you use the Advanced Driver Updater. The tool offers an amazing 3 step process for instant driver upgrades. All you have to do is –

Step 1 – Download and Install the app on your PC.

Step 2 – Use the Start Scan Now feature to find out about existing outdated drivers on your PC.

Step 3 – After the scan, use the Update All button to install updates that the tool has found. 

After updating the driver, restart your PC and reopen the Word document. You shall be able to see the missing images and MS Word was not displaying properly.

Fix 3 – Bring the Image Inline and Check Text Wrapping

One of the common issues that make it difficult for a user to see images in a Word document is the placement and alignment of the image. When the text wrapping is incorrectly made, the images often go out of the page or frame, and you cannot see them. There are often cases where only half of the images or just the border of it is visible. In such situations, the ideal solution is to check the wrapping and inline settings. 

Step 1 – If you can identify the image, select and right-click on it to find the Wrap Text option.

Step 2 – Click in line with Text to ensure that the images are realigned as required. 

After trying these methods, the image should be visible. Ensure you download the Advanced Driver Updater to keep your driver updated and avoid situations where Word not displaying images becomes frustrating. Thanks for reading. Good luck!

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