This article explains how to add a background image to an email in Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook 2010.

What to Know

  • In Outlook for Windows, open a new email window and go to Options > Page Color > Fill Effects > Picture > Select Picture > Insert > OK.In Outlook for Mac, click in the body of the email and go to Options > Background Picture > select image > Open.

How to Add a Background Image to a Message in Outlook

Add a background image to Outlook to spice up your emails and make them look different than those with a white background. Not only can you make the background of your emails a solid color, gradient, texture, or pattern, but you can choose a custom picture so that recipients see a large image behind the email text.

  • Open the Microsoft Outlook desktop app.
  • Go to the Home tab and select New Email. Or, press Ctrl+N.
  • In the new message window, place the cursor in the message body.
  • Go to the Options tab.
  • In the Themes group, select the Page Color dropdown arrow.
  • Choose Fill Effects.
  • In the Fill Effects dialog box, go to the Picture tab.
  • Choose Select Picture.
  • Choose where to find an image to use as the background for the Outlook message:
  • Select From a File to insert an image from your computer.Select Bing Image Search and enter a word or phrase to find an online image.Select OneDrive to insert an image from your OneDrive account.
  • Choose the picture, then select Insert.
  • In the Fill Effects dialog box, select OK.

How to Insert an Outlook Background Image in macOS

You can easily add a background image to a new email message in Outlook for Mac, as well.

Before you can add an image to the background of email messages, enable HTML formatting. A background image can only be added to individual email messages. Reapply these settings for each email you want to have a background picture.

Open the Microsoft Outlook desktop app.

Go to the Home tab and select New Email. Or, press Ctrl+N.

In the new message window, place the cursor in the message body.

Go to the Options tab.

In the Themes group, select the Page Color dropdown arrow.

Choose Fill Effects.

In the Fill Effects dialog box, go to the Picture tab.

Choose Select Picture.

Choose where to find an image to use as the background for the Outlook message:

  • Select From a File to insert an image from your computer.Select Bing Image Search and enter a word or phrase to find an online image.Select OneDrive to insert an image from your OneDrive account.

Choose the picture, then select Insert.

In the Fill Effects dialog box, select OK.

One way to get around having to recreate this message every time you want to send it is to create an Outlook template that you can use as a starting point each time you want to send an email that has an image in the background.

If you don’t like the background image, remove the image from the new message. Go to the Options tab, select the Page Color dropdown arrow, and choose No Color. Or, prevent the background image from scrolling.

  • Click in the body of the email.
  • Choose Options > Background Picture.
  • Select the image you want to use as the background picture, then click Open.

Click in the body of the email.

Choose Options > Background Picture.

Select the image you want to use as the background picture, then click Open.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day