FAQ: Microsoft Outlook

Enabling HTML, Links, and/or Pictures in Outlook Emails

Ok, so you've been a good e-mail citizen and you are having Outlook 2003 or Thunderbird convert all your incoming e-mails to Plain Text... But now you get an e-mail that you really want to see in all its HTML glory! How can you do that?

OUTLOOK 2003

Please only do the following if you are sure of the validity of the message. Enabling these features in a virus-infected HTML e-mail could cause your computer to be infected, or in specially crafted HTML e-mails you will be letting the sender know you've opened their e-mail once you view it as HTML.

Enabling HTML
The grey Info Bar at the top of the message might look like this:
This message was converted to plain text Just right click on it and select "Display as HTML"

Enabling HTML and Links
The Info Bar might look like this:
Click here to turn on links. To help protect your security, links are turned off in this message. This message was converted to plain text Just right click on it and select "Display as HTML". Your message will now be displayed in HTML, but the links are still disabled for safety. The Info Bar now looks like this: Click here to turn on links. To help protect your security, links are turned off in this message. This message was converted to plain text If you find you also need the HTML links enabled too then right-click on the bar again and select "Turn on Links".

Enabling Picture Download
Finally, you may have a desire to view the pictures in an e-mail. If you see this in the Info Bar:
Click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of some pictures in this message. Right-click on it and select "Download Pictures".

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