How to Fix Profile Picture Not Showing in Outlook on Windows 11

Need to fix profile picture not showing in Outlook on Windows 11?

Microsoft Outlook enables its users to customize their accounts by adding profile pictures. In general, a default profile picture is shown in various Microsoft services such as Outlook or Windows Settings. However, many users have reported an issue regarding their profile picture not showing in Outlook on Windows 11.

Although the reason behind this error can be multiple, the main ones include issues within the Microsoft Sync feature, outdated Windows, or corrupted system files. Once you’ve identified the root cause, you can follow any of the methods mentioned in this guide to fix the problem.

So, let’s dive into the solutions!

1. Check Your Microsoft Account.

Starting with the basics, you should first check if you’re using the correct Microsoft account or if that account has a profile picture set up in the first place. If you think there’s a glitch in your account, try logging out and back in to see if the issue gets resolved.

Here’s how to check what Microsoft account you’re using for your PC:

1. First, click on the Windows icon from the taskbar.
2. Then, search for Settings.
3. From the results, click on Settings to launch the app.
4. On the top-left corner of the screen under your profile, check if you’re using the right Microsoft account address.

If this doesn’t fix things for you, let’s try the other one below.

2. Ensure Account Sync Is Enabled.

If your profile picture is showing only on a particular device, ensure that you’ve enabled the Account Sync feature for your Microsoft account. This feature allows all your settings and preferences to be synced across all devices using that outlook address.

Follow the steps below to do it:

1. From the taskbar, click on the Windows icon.
2. Then, type Settings in the search bar.
3. Click on the Settings app from the results to open it.
4. From the left pane, go to Accounts.
5. Then, click on Windows backup from the left pane.

6. Ensure the toggles of Remember my apps and Remember my preferences are switched on.

Once done, close all windows and check if the issue has been resolved.

3. Re-Add New Profile Picture.

There could be a problem with the existing pictures in your outlook account. A quick fix for this is to manually remove all the previous images, including your display, and add a new one.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by pressing the Windows + R shortcut keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Paste the following address and change yourname with your profile username in use:

C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures

3. A folder will appear. Choose and delete all the pictures.
4. Then, close the window.
5. After that, press the Windows + i shortcut keys from your keyboard. This will launch the Settings app.
6. From the top-left corner of the screen, click on your profile.
7. Then, click on Your info from the right side under Account settings.

8. You may select either Take a photo or Choose a file from the options and select your desired photo.

At times, you may be unable to see any pictures in the folder. In that case, let’s move on to the next method below.

4. Use Outlook Web to Upload Your Profile Picture.

In case you can’t upload a profile picture on your account from Windows Settings, don’t fret. It’s possible that Windows could be facing an internal glitch. A quick workaround is to head over to Outlook web and upload or update your account’s picture from there.

Use the instructions below to do it:

1. Launch your preferred browser on your computer.
2. Then, open the official Outlook login page.
3. Next, provide your account credentials in the dedicated fields to log in.
4. On the top-right corner of the window, click on your profile icon.
5. Then, click on your profile icon again to upload a picture.
6. Upload your desired profile photo and check if the issue is solved.

If Outlook web fails to work, ensure whether the service is down.

5. Reboot Your PC.

The issue of your profile picture not showing in Outlook on Windows 11 could also occur due to a temporary bug or glitch within your computer’s software. A simple fix to resolve such culprits is by rebooting your computer.

Below are the steps you must follow:

1. First, click on the Start menu.
2. Then, click on the Power icon and choose Restart.

Once it boots up, go to your Outlook account and check if the profile picture is visible again. Otherwise, move to other methods below.

6. Ensure Your Contact Has Enabled Your Profile Picture.

In case your profile picture is visible to you and not to some of your contacts, then it’s a problem from their end. Outlook allows you to hide your contacts’ pictures when receiving their emails. You can ask your contacts to follow the steps below and check if they have disabled this option:

1. Click on the Search icon from the taskbar.
2. Then, search for Outlook.
3. From the results below, click the Outlook app to open it.

4. Go to File at the top-left corner of the screen.
5. Select Options from the menu.
6. From the left pane, go to People.
7. Make sure the Show user photographs when available box is checked.

If the problem persists with most of your contacts and the previous instructions were of no help, move to the following method.

7. Perform SFC and DISM Scans.

Now is the time to refer to the Windows built-in utilities to try to fix the issue. These include SFC and DISM scans. The former helps diagnose and restore corrupted and damaged files back to their original state, while the latter repairs the faulty files as per the Windows system images.

For an SFC scan, follow these steps:

1. First, click on the Windows icon from the taskbar.
2. Then, type Command Prompt in the search bar.
3. Click on the Run as administrator option from the results.

4. Next, copy and paste the following command:

sfc /scannow

5. The prompt window will then display whether the files are fixed. Otherwise, it will display further instructions for you to follow.
6. Then, close the Command Prompt window.

For a DISM scan, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Start icon from the taskbar.
2. Search for Command Prompt in the search bar.
3. Then, click on Run as administrator.
4. Paste the following command one after another:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. After that, close the Command Prompt window.

Restart your PC afterward to check if the issue gets resolved.

8. Update Windows.

When nothing else works in resolving this issue, your last resort is to update your Windows OS to the latest available build. This will eliminate any bugs and glitches present in your current OS as well as the Outlook account since the application will be updated as well.

Below are the steps you need to follow:

1. First, click on the Start icon from the taskbar.
2. In the search bar, type Settings, then press the Enter key to launch the Settings app.
3. From the window’s left pane, go to the Windows Update option.

4. If there is any pending update, click on Download and Install.

And that brings our guide on how to fix the issue with your profile picture not showing in Outlook on Windows 11 to end. For more questions, head over to the comment section below. We’ll be glad to provide further assistance.

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