Why are images not showing in Gmail webmail but are showing in the Gmail mobile app?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 31 Jul 2025
Updated 19 Aug 2025
7 min read
It can be frustrating when emails look perfect on one device but are broken on another. A common issue email marketers and regular users encounter is images failing to display in Gmail webmail, yet showing up flawlessly in the Gmail mobile app. This discrepancy often indicates a client-side problem, specifically related to how web browsers handle content compared to dedicated mobile applications.
The core of the problem usually lies in the differing security models, caching mechanisms, and rendering engines between a desktop web browser and a mobile email application. While a mobile app might have built-in permissions or a streamlined way to fetch all content, a web browser on a desktop might be subject to stricter security settings, extensions, or even local network configurations that prevent certain elements, like images, from loading.
When facing this specific scenario, the focus shifts from server-side email deliverability issues, like your emails going to spam, to troubleshooting your local browsing environment. Understanding these differences is key to diagnosing and fixing why your images aren't showing in webmail.
Why images display differently
Both the Gmail web client and the Gmail mobile application use Google's image proxy service to serve images. This service aims to protect users by scanning images for malicious content, resizing them for optimal display, and masking the user's IP address from the image host. However, the way this proxy interacts with different clients can vary. Mobile apps are often more integrated with the device's system, allowing for smoother pre-fetching and rendering, while web browsers can be more susceptible to external factors.
Gmail's image proxy differences
The mobile app, being a native application, might handle network requests and caching more aggressively or with different permissions than a web browser. For instance, if you've seen the 'Images are hidden' banner in webmail, it's Gmail's way of alerting you to potential security concerns or a lack of trust in the sender. This prompt is often less common in mobile apps, which might automatically display images unless explicit security flags are raised.
Another factor is how Google pre-fetches images. The mobile app might pre-fetch more aggressively or use different network conditions, ensuring images are ready when you open an email. The web version, on the other hand, might wait for user interaction or have different resource allocation rules, which can lead to delayed or failed image loading.
Common causes for image discrepancies
When images are not showing in Gmail webmail but are fine in the mobile app, several common culprits might be at play within your web browser environment. These are often localized to your specific setup and can usually be resolved with simple adjustments.
Browser-specific issues
One primary reason is browser settings. Gmail itself has a setting to always display images, but your browser can override this or have its own image blocking mechanisms. Browser extensions, especially ad blockers or privacy tools, can sometimes inadvertently block legitimate images. They might interpret image-serving URLs, particularly those from proxies, as tracking elements or advertisements, leading to a block.
Browser cache and cookies can also cause interference. Over time, cached data can become corrupted, leading to display errors. If an older, broken version of an image or its loading instructions is cached, the browser might fail to fetch the new, correct version. Similarly, corrupted cookies related to Gmail could disrupt proper loading. Another less common, but possible cause is a DNS issue on your machine that specifically impacts your web browser's ability to resolve the domains from which Gmail's image proxy fetches content.
Potential causes
Browser extensions: Ad blockers or privacy extensions blocking image URLs.
Browser cache: Corrupted or outdated cached image data.
Browser settings: Specific settings preventing image loads, or an outdated browser version.
Network/DNS issues: Local DNS problems preventing resolution of image proxy domains.
Troubleshooting browser-specific issues
Given that the images load correctly in the Gmail mobile app, and potentially in other browsers, the troubleshooting steps should primarily focus on your web browser's environment. Here’s a systematic approach to resolve image loading issues in Gmail webmail.
Chrome and browser settings
First, ensure your browser is up to date. Outdated browser versions can have bugs or compatibility issues that prevent content from rendering correctly. Next, try disabling all browser extensions, especially those related to ad blocking or privacy. If images reappear, re-enable them one by one to identify the culprit. You can then configure the problematic extension to allow images on Gmail.com.
Clearing your browser's cache and cookies is another crucial step. Accumulated data can interfere with new content loading. This often resolves display issues that aren't tied to specific extensions. After clearing, restart your browser and check Gmail again. If the issue persists, consider trying a different browser (like Safari, as was effective in one scenario) to see if it’s truly confined to your primary browser.
Advanced troubleshooting
If browser-specific fixes don't work, consider local network or DNS issues. While less common, a misconfigured DNS server or a stale DNS cache on your computer could prevent your browser from connecting to Google's image proxy servers. Flushing your DNS cache can sometimes resolve this.
While this particular issue is often client-side, for email senders, it's a good reminder of best practices to ensure your email images load reliably for all recipients, regardless of their client or settings. Email deliverability is multifaceted, and image loading is a key component of a good user experience.
Image hosting and file types
Always ensure your images are hosted on a reliable server that is publicly accessible and has a good reputation. Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is recommended for speed and reliability. Stick to widely supported image formats like JPG, PNG, and GIF. While WebP is gaining traction, not all email clients or older browsers fully support it, which could lead to display issues. Also, consider the file size of your images, as large files can lead to slow loading or timeouts, especially on slower connections or older devices.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure your email images are hosted on a reliable, publicly accessible web server.
Use standard image formats like JPEG, PNG, or GIF for broad compatibility.
Always include descriptive alt text for images to provide context, even if images are blocked.
Verify that your email authentication, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is correctly set up to build sender trust.
Test emails across various clients and devices before sending large campaigns.
Common pitfalls
Relying solely on image-based content without sufficient text can lead to poor accessibility and deliverability.
Using overly large image files that slow down loading times, especially on mobile networks.
Ignoring browser-specific settings or extensions that might be interfering with image rendering.
Not regularly clearing browser cache and cookies, which can lead to stale content being displayed.
Overlooking local network DNS issues that prevent image proxy resolution.
Expert tips
For optimal loading, especially on mobile, compress your images without sacrificing quality.
Consider using a CDN for image hosting to ensure fast and reliable delivery globally.
If your images consistently fail to load for certain recipients, suggest they check their browser's developer console for errors.
Advise users to clear their browser data or test in incognito mode if troubleshooting fails.
Remember that email clients like Gmail often proxy images for security, so ensure your host doesn't block Google's access.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says to verify the URL in the message and the website hosting the image, as this can reveal issues with external accessibility or specific hosting configurations.
2023-11-09 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says that checking for recent software updates on the laptop used for webmail is important, as system or browser updates can introduce new behaviors.
2023-11-09 - Email Geeks
Resolving image display issues in Gmail
The disparity in image loading between Gmail webmail and its mobile app often stems from the differences in how web browsers and native applications handle content, security, and caching. While mobile apps are typically more permissive or optimized for consistent content display, web browsers are subject to a wider array of local configurations, extensions, and network settings that can interfere with image rendering.
By systematically checking browser settings, disabling extensions, clearing cache and cookies, and even considering local DNS issues, you can usually pinpoint and resolve why images aren't showing in your Gmail web interface. For email senders, adhering to image best practices, such as reliable hosting and proper formatting, remains crucial for consistent email deliverability and ensuring your messages look as intended across all platforms.
Gmail itself has a setting to always display images, but your browser can override this or have its own image blocking mechanisms. Browser extensions, especially ad blockers or privacy tools, can sometimes inadvertently block legitimate images. They might interpret image-serving URLs, particularly those from proxies, as tracking elements or advertisements, leading to a block.
