Troubleshooting5 min read

Images Not Displaying

Fix common issues with signature images showing as red X, broken icons, or not loading.

Last updated: May 18, 2024

One of the most common email signature issues is images not displaying correctly. This guide helps you diagnose and fix image problems.

Common Symptoms

  • Red X icon where image should be
  • Blue question mark placeholder
  • Broken image icon
  • Empty space where image should be
  • Images blocked with "Click to download" message

Why Images Don't Display

1. Images Blocked by Email Client

Most email clients block images by default for security and privacy:

  • Gmail: Blocks external images until user clicks "Display images"
  • Outlook: Shows "Click here to download pictures"
  • Apple Mail: Generally shows images but may block tracking pixels

Solution: This is expected behavior. Educate recipients that they may need to enable images from your domain.

2. Image URL Not Accessible

The image file might not be reachable:

  • URL is incorrect or has typos
  • Server hosting the image is down
  • Image was moved or deleted
  • URL uses HTTP instead of HTTPS

Solution: Verify the image URL is accessible by opening it directly in a browser.

3. Image Blocked by Corporate Firewall

Company email servers may block external image URLs:

  • Security policies prevent external content
  • Domain is not whitelisted
  • Content filtering blocks image types

Solution: Work with IT to whitelist Signkit image domains or host images on your company's servers.

4. Incorrect Image Format

Some email clients have format limitations:

  • Animated GIFs may not play
  • WebP format not supported everywhere
  • SVG files rarely work in email

Solution: Use PNG or JPG format for maximum compatibility.

Diagnosing the Issue

Step 1: Test the Image URL

  1. Copy the image URL from your signature
  2. Open a new browser tab
  3. Paste the URL and press Enter
  4. Does the image load?

If no: The image URL is broken. Check the file location and URL.

If yes: The image is accessible. The issue is with the email client.

Step 2: Check HTTPS

Ensure your image URLs use HTTPS:

✅ Good: https://cdn.signkit.io/logos/company.png
❌ Bad: http://cdn.signkit.io/logos/company.png

Many email clients block HTTP (non-secure) content.

Step 3: Verify Image Size

Large images may fail to load:

  • Keep images under 500KB
  • Resize to actual display dimensions
  • Compress using tools like TinyPNG

Step 4: Test in Multiple Clients

Send test emails to:

  • Gmail (web and mobile)
  • Outlook (desktop and web)
  • Apple Mail
  • Yahoo Mail

Document where images work vs. don't work.

Fixing Common Issues

Fixing Broken URLs

  1. In Signkit, go to your template
  2. Click on the image block
  3. Verify or re-upload the image
  4. Save and regenerate signatures

Updating to HTTPS

If using custom image hosting:

  1. Ensure your server has an SSL certificate
  2. Update image URLs from http:// to https://
  3. Regenerate signatures with new URLs

Optimizing Images

For better loading:

  1. Resize images to actual display size (don't scale down with HTML)
  2. Use PNG for logos with transparency
  3. Use JPG for photos
  4. Compress files before uploading

Embedding vs. Linking

Linked images (default):

  • Smaller email size
  • May be blocked
  • Can be updated without resending

Embedded images (Base64):

  • Always display
  • Larger email size
  • Some clients strip them

Signkit uses linked images for better performance and tracking.

Email Client-Specific Solutions

Gmail

Gmail blocks images from unknown senders:

  1. Recipients should add you to contacts
  2. Click "Always display images from [sender]"
  3. Admins can whitelist domains in Google Admin

Outlook

Outlook blocks external images by default:

  1. Recipients click "Download pictures"
  2. Right-click, select "Add Sender to Safe Senders List"
  3. IT can configure trusted domains

Apple Mail

Generally permissive, but check:

  1. Mail > Preferences > Privacy
  2. Ensure "Block All Remote Content" is not enabled

Yahoo Mail

  1. Go to Settings > More Settings
  2. Under Security and Privacy, check blocked content settings

Testing Your Signature

Send Test Emails

  1. Send to personal email accounts (Gmail, Outlook.com)
  2. Send to work accounts
  3. Send to colleagues with different email clients
  4. Check on mobile devices

Use Email Testing Tools

Services like Litmus or Email on Acid can show how your signature renders across many clients.

When Images Won't Load for Specific Recipients

If only certain recipients report issues:

  1. Corporate firewall: Ask if their IT blocks external images
  2. Email client settings: Guide them to enable images
  3. Network issues: May be temporary connectivity problems

Alt Text: Your Safety Net

Always include alt text for images:

  • Displays when images are blocked
  • Helps with accessibility
  • Provides context for recipients

Example:

<img src="logo.png" alt="Company Name Logo">

In Signkit, configure alt text in the image block settings.

Preventing Future Issues

  1. Use Signkit's CDN: Images hosted on Signkit are optimized for delivery
  2. Keep images small: Under 500KB each
  3. Test before deploying: Send tests to multiple email clients
  4. Include alt text: Always add descriptive alt text
  5. Monitor delivery: Check analytics for image load rates

Still Having Issues?

If you've tried these solutions and images still don't display:

  1. Check our formatting issues guide
  2. Contact support@signkit.io with:
  • Screenshot of the issue
  • Email client and version
  • Your signature URL
imagestroubleshootingemail clients

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