Graphics feature stopped working on MS Outlook 365 Individual Account for Laptop?

Use the built-in graphics features in Outlook rather than reinstalling Office, and then troubleshoot Outlook/Office if the Insert options are missing or Outlook crashes.

To add graphics in Outlook for Microsoft 365 on Windows:

1. Compose a new email or open a reply/forward.
2. If it opens in the Reading Pane, select Pop Out so the message opens in its own window.
3. Click in the message body.
4. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, use:
   • Pictures to insert images from the PC.
   • Online Pictures to insert images from Bing (including animated GIFs if using Microsoft 365).
   • Shapes, SmartArt, etc., as needed.

If Outlook or other Office apps stopped working or crash when using graphics:

1. Make sure Office is fully updated using the built-in update mechanism.
2. If Office apps show “stopped working” errors, follow the documented troubleshooting order:
   • Start the affected Office app in Safe Mode and disable add-ins:
     1. Open Run (Windows key+R) and run the appropriate command, for example outlook /safe (for Outlook) or winword /safe (for Word). Ensure there is a space before /safe.
     2. If the app opens in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-Ins.
     3. In Manage, choose the relevant Add-ins type or COM Add-ins, select Go, then clear one add-in at a time and restart normally to find the problematic add-in.
   • If the app does not start in Safe Mode, repair Office:
     1. Open Control Panel.
     2. Select Uninstall a program.
     3. Right-click the Microsoft 365 installation and select Change > Online Repair.
3. If repair does not help and “stopped working” errors persist, uninstall and reinstall Office using the official uninstall troubleshooter:
   1. Run the Microsoft 365/Office uninstall troubleshooter from the provided Uninstall tool.
   2. Follow the prompts and restart the PC.
   3. Reinstall Microsoft 365 from the appropriate download link for the subscription.

If animated graphics (GIFs) specifically stopped animating:

1. Ensure animated GIFs are enabled:
   • In older Outlook for Microsoft 365 (before version 2008): File > Options > Advanced > in Display, enable Play animated GIFs.
   • In Outlook for Microsoft 365 version 2008 or higher on Windows 10, enable Windows animations: open Start, type Show animations, then under Simplify and personalize Windows, turn on Show animations in Windows.
2. As a workaround, open the message in a browser: open the message, then on the Message tab, in the Move group, select Actions > View in Browser.

If the problem started after a display/DPI change and attachments appear distorted or oversized when opened, apply the documented registry fix (DontUseScreenDpiOnOpen) only if comfortable editing the registry and after backing it up, as described in the referenced article.

References:

• Add graphics to messages in Outlook
• I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
• 2 - Disable add-ins manually
• 5 - Uninstall and reinstall Office
• Outlook crashes or stops responding when used with Office 365
• The animated graphic in my e-mail message doesn't work
• Graphics file attachment grows larger in the recipient's email message after you change to a high DPI setting