What does 'Display images below' mean in Gmail?

This message means Gmail has temporarily blocked external images until the user manually allows them to load.

Does Gmail block images for security reasons?

Yes. Gmail blocks some images to prevent malicious content, protect privacy, and reduce spam-related tracking risks.

Why Gmail Blocks Images (And What “Display Images Below” Means)

Q: Why does Gmail block images?

Gmail may block images when a message appears suspicious or when external images could pose a security risk.

Last updated: March 7, 2026

Short Answer: Gmail blocks images when it detects a potential security risk or when external images might expose user information. When Gmail blocks images, it may display a message such as “Display images below.”

Quick Summary:

Gmail may block external images for security reasons.
Blocked images can be manually displayed.
Image blocking protects users from malicious content.
Proxy servers help filter and retrieve images safely.

Common reasons Gmail blocks images:

The sender appears suspicious.
The message contains external image sources.
The email triggers spam protection rules.
The user has disabled automatic image loading.

What “Display Images Below” Means

When Gmail displays the message “Display images below,” it means that external images in the email have been temporarily blocked.

The user can manually allow images to load by clicking the display option inside the message.

Once images are allowed, Gmail retrieves them through its proxy servers before displaying them.

Why Gmail Blocks External Images

External images in email messages can sometimes be used to track recipients or deliver malicious content.

Blocking images helps Gmail prevent security risks such as:

Malware embedded in images
Phishing attempts
Hidden tracking pixels
Spam-related behavior

If Gmail determines the message is safe, the user can still load the images manually.

How Gmail Safely Loads Images

When Gmail loads images, it usually retrieves them through Google proxy servers rather than directly from the sender’s server.

This architecture protects the recipient’s IP address and device information.

For a full explanation of this system see how Gmail loads images.

How Image Blocking Affects Email Tracking

Email tracking systems rely on image loading events to detect when an email has been opened.

If images are blocked, tracking systems cannot detect the open until the images are allowed to load.

For a technical explanation see how Gmail image proxy affects email tracking.

Does Gmail Usually Load Images Automatically?

Yes. In most situations Gmail loads images automatically through proxy servers.

Learn more in does Gmail load images automatically.

Want to know when your email is opened? Create a MailPing tracking link and confirm the first open timestamp in your dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Gmail block images?

Gmail blocks images when it detects potential security risks or suspicious senders.

What does “Display images below” mean?

It means Gmail temporarily blocked images and allows the user to load them manually.

Does blocking images affect email tracking?

Yes. Tracking systems rely on image loading events to detect opens.