How to Change Image Download Format in Outlook

Outlook often saves images in formats you might not expect, especially when dealing with embedded images or attachments. This guide shows you how to control and change image formats when downloading from Outlook emails.

Understanding Outlook Image Formats

Common Formats in Outlook:

• Embedded images: Often saved as PNG or original format
• Email signatures: Usually PNG with transparency
• Forwarded images: May be converted to different formats
• Compressed attachments: Automatically optimized by Outlook

Outlook Desktop (Windows/Mac)

Method 1: Right-Click Save Options

For Individual Images:

1. Right-click on the image in the email
2. Select "Save as Picture..."
3. In the save dialog, choose file format:
   • JPEG for photos
   • PNG for graphics with transparency
   • BMP for uncompressed images
   • GIF for simple graphics

Format Selection Tips:

Photo images → Choose JPEG
Logo/Icons → Choose PNG
Simple graphics → Choose GIF
High quality → Choose BMP

Method 2: Copy and Paste to Image Editor

Step-by-step process:

1. Right-click image and select "Copy"
2. Open Paint (Windows) or Preview (Mac)
3. Paste the image (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
4. Go to File > Save As
5. Choose desired format from dropdown

Method 3: Save All Attachments

For multiple images:

1. Click "File" > "Save Attachments"
2. Select "All Attachments" or choose specific ones
3. Choose destination folder
4. Images save in their original format

Outlook Web App (Outlook.com)

Method 1: Download Attachments

For attached images:

1. Click the attachment in the email
2. Select "Download" button
3. Image downloads in original format
4. Convert later using tools below

Method 2: Right-Click Save

For embedded images:

1. Right-click on the image
2. Select "Save image as..."
3. Browser determines format (usually PNG or JPEG)
4. Rename file extension if needed

Method 3: Open in New Tab

For better format control:

1. Right-click image
2. Select "Open image in new tab"
3. Right-click in new tab
4. Save image as with format choice

Mobile Outlook Apps

iOS Outlook App

Save to Photos:

1. Tap and hold the image
2. Select "Save to Photos"
3. Image saves as original format
4. Convert using Photos app if needed

Share to Files:

1. Tap and hold the image
2. Select "Share"
3. Choose "Save to Files"
4. Original format preserved

Android Outlook App

Save to Gallery:

1. Long press the image
2. Select "Save image"
3. Downloads to Gallery in original format
4. Use gallery app to convert if needed

Share Options:

1. Long press image
2. Select "Share"
3. Choose image editor app
4. Save in preferred format

Converting Image Formats

Windows Built-in Tools

Using Paint:

1. Open image in Paint
2. Go to File > Save as
3. Choose format:
   • JPEG picture (.jpg)
   • PNG picture (.png)
   • GIF picture (.gif)
   • Bitmap picture (.bmp)

Using Photos App:

1. Open image in Photos app
2. Click "Edit & Create" > "Edit"
3. Click "Save a copy"
4. Choose format in save dialog

Mac Built-in Tools

Using Preview:

1. Open image in Preview
2. Go to File > Export As...
3. Select format:
   • JPEG (adjustable quality)
   • PNG (lossless)
   • TIFF (high quality)
   • PDF (document format)

Quality Settings:

JPEG Quality Guide:
- 90-100%: High quality, larger files
- 70-90%: Good quality, medium files
- 50-70%: Acceptable quality, small files
- 30-50%: Low quality, very small files

Online Conversion Tools

ImgHunt Image Converter (Recommended):

Use the free ImgHunt Image Converter for secure, private conversion:

✅ Privacy-first: All conversion happens locally in your browser ✅ No uploads: Your images never leave your device
✅ Multiple formats: Convert to JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, or PDF ✅ Batch processing: Convert multiple files simultaneously ✅ High quality: Maintains image quality during conversion ✅ Free to use: No registration, watermarks, or hidden fees

How to use:

1. Visit ImgHunt Image Converter
2. Drag and drop your Outlook images
3. Select target format (JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc.)
4. Convert instantly in your browser
5. Download converted files

Outlook Settings for Image Handling

Desktop Outlook Settings

Change Default Image Handling:

1. Go to File > Options
2. Select "Mail" from left panel
3. Click "Editor Options"
4. Go to "Advanced" tab
5. Under "Image Size and Quality":
   • Uncheck "Compress images in document"
   • Set default resolution

Attachment Settings:

1. File > Options > Mail
2. Scroll to "Attachments" section
3. Set default save location
4. Configure security settings

Web Outlook Settings

Browser Download Settings:

1. Browser Settings > Downloads
2. Set download location
3. Enable "Ask where to save" for control
4. Configure file type associations

Dealing with Compressed Images

Why Outlook Compresses Images

Automatic Compression:

• Reduces email size for faster sending
• Saves server storage space
• Improves performance on slow connections
• Default setting in most Outlook versions

Preventing Compression

Method 1: Insert as Attachment

1. Attach image instead of embedding
2. Preserves original quality
3. Maintains original format
4. Larger email size

Method 2: Change Compression Settings

1. Insert > Pictures
2. Select image after inserting
3. Picture Tools > Compress Pictures
4. Uncheck "Compress pictures"
5. Select "Best quality"

Recovering Original Quality

If image is already compressed:

1. Ask sender for original file
2. Check if attachment version available
3. Use AI upscaling tools for improvement
4. Request resend with different settings

Batch Processing Solutions

PowerShell Script (Windows)

# Convert all PNG files to JPEG in Downloads folder
$source = "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads"
Get-ChildItem -Path $source -Filter "*.png" | ForEach-Object {
    $image = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile($_.FullName)
    $jpegPath = $_.FullName -replace "\.png$", ".jpg"
    $image.Save($jpegPath, [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Jpeg)
    $image.Dispose()
    Write-Host "Converted: $($_.Name)"
}

Automator Script (Mac)

1. Open Automator
2. Create new "Folder Action"
3. Add "Change Type of Images" action
4. Set target folder (Downloads)
5. Choose output format
6. Save and activate

Third-Party Batch Tools

Windows:

• IrfanView (free, powerful)
• XnConvert (free, cross-platform)
• FastStone Image Viewer (free)

Mac:

• ImageOptim (free, compression)
• GraphicConverter (paid, comprehensive)
• Permute (paid, simple)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Images Won't Save in Desired Format

Possible Causes:

1. Browser limitations in web Outlook
2. Outlook version doesn't support format
3. Image is embedded differently
4. Security settings blocking downloads

Solutions:

1. Try different save method
2. Copy and paste to image editor
3. Use screenshot as last resort
4. Check browser settings

Poor Image Quality After Download

Common Issues:

• Outlook compression reduced quality
• Email forwarding degraded image
• Automatic resizing by sender
• Format conversion loss

Improvements:

1. Request original from sender
2. Use AI upscaling tools
3. Try different download method
4. Check for attachment version

Format Not Recognized

When downloaded format won't open:

1. Check file extension is correct
2. Try renaming with proper extension
3. Use universal viewer like IrfanView
4. Convert using online tools

Best Practices

For Senders

To preserve image quality:

1. Attach images instead of embedding
2. Disable compression in Outlook settings
3. Use cloud sharing for large/multiple images
4. Specify format requirements in email

For Recipients

To get best results:

1. Ask for attachments when quality matters
2. Save immediately to prevent degradation
3. Use proper tools for conversion
4. Organize downloads by format/purpose

Organization Tips

File Management:

Downloads/
├── Images/
│   ├── Original/     (unchanged downloads)
│   ├── Converted/    (format conversions)
│   ├── Work/         (business images)
│   └── Personal/     (personal photos)

Advanced Solutions

Browser Extensions

ImgHunt Extension (Recommended):

Install the ImgHunt Chrome Extension for better image management:

✅ Bulk downloads: Download multiple images at once ✅ Format control: Choose preferred formats before downloading ✅ Web compatibility: Works with Outlook Web and other email services ✅ Organization: Better file naming and folder management ✅ Privacy-focused: Secure image processing

Perfect for:

• Downloading multiple images from Outlook Web
• Batch processing email attachments
• Consistent format management
• Streamlined workflow optimization

Email Client Alternatives

Better image handling:

• Thunderbird (more format options)
• Apple Mail (better Mac integration)
• Gmail (web-based flexibility)
• Spark (mobile-friendly)

Summary

Key Takeaways:

1. Right-click save offers format choices in desktop Outlook
2. Copy-paste method works across all platforms
3. Built-in tools (Paint/Preview) handle basic conversions
4. Online converters provide advanced options
5. Prevention is better than conversion

Quick Solutions:

• Desktop: Right-click > Save as Picture > Choose format
• Web: Right-click > Save image as > Convert if needed
• Mobile: Long press > Save > Use device tools to convert
• Batch: Use PowerShell/Automator scripts

Pro Tips:

• Ask senders to attach images for best quality
• Use ImgHunt for web-based image downloads
• Keep originals before converting
• Organize by format for easier management

Whether you're dealing with business graphics or personal photos, these methods ensure you get images in the format you need from Outlook emails.