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To stop Gmail from loading remote images automatically, change the image setting to ask before displaying them. This prevents many image-based tracking pixels from loading unless you choose to show images in a message, but it cannot guarantee that a sender will never infer that you opened an email.

Set Gmail to ask before displaying external images

Gmail displays external images automatically by default, though Google says it may withhold them when it considers a sender or message suspicious. You can switch to asking before images load on desktop, Android, or iPhone and iPad. The setting is account-specific on Android.

On a computer

  1. Open Gmail and select Settings.
  2. Select See all settings.
  3. In the Images section, select Ask before displaying external images.
  4. Select Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

These are Google’s current desktop steps in Gmail Help.

On Android

  1. Open the Gmail app and tap Menu.
  2. Tap Settings, then choose the account you want to change.
  3. Under Data usage, tap Images.
  4. Select Ask before showing.

Google lists these steps for Android in Gmail Help.

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#1 Best Overall
Magicmoon 2-Pack 24 Inch Computer Privacy Screen Filter for 16:9 Monitor
  • Compatible Model(s): Magicmoon brand filter only for 24 inch -diagonally measured - widescreen monitor - aspect ratio 16:9 - filter size: width: 20 15/16", Height: 11 13/16" (531mm x 298mm)
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On iPhone or iPad

  1. Open the Gmail app and tap Menu, then Settings.
  2. Under Inbox, tap Email preferences.
  3. Tap Images and choose Ask before displaying external images.

See Google’s iPhone and iPad instructions if the labels differ in your app.

How this reduces tracking pixels—and what it cannot do

A tracking pixel is a remote image embedded in an email. When the email app fetches that image from an external server, the fetch can signal to the sender that the message was opened. With ask-before enabled, Gmail does not automatically load external images; if you choose not to display them, that image-based open signal is less likely to be sent through the image request.

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This is a reduction in one common kind of open tracking, not a guarantee of anonymity or a way to block every form of email tracking. Google’s own warning is: “Sometimes, senders may know whether you’ve opened an email that has an image.” The setting also does not establish that every image is blocked in every circumstance.

What Gmail’s image protections cover

Google says Gmail scans images for signs of suspicious content before delivery and checks them for known harmful software. Google also says senders cannot use image loading to obtain information about your computer or location, or to set or read browser cookies through the image. Those protections limit what an image request can reveal; they do not negate Google’s warning that a sender may sometimes know an image-containing email was opened. Details are in Google Gmail Help.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
SightPro 24 Inch 16:9 Computer Privacy Screen Filter for Monitor - Privacy Shield and Anti-Glare Protector
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Choose whether to display images in an individual email

Asking first does not prevent you from viewing an email’s images. If you decide to load them, open the message and select Display images below. That choice allows the external images in that message to load, so avoid selecting it when you do not want to trigger image requests from that email.

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Trade-off: dynamic email may need images enabled

Google says Gmail dynamic email can let you reply to Calendar events, fill out questionnaires, browse catalogs, and respond to comments in Google Docs without leaving a message. Google’s guidance says dynamic email requires allowing Gmail to always display images. With ask-before enabled, image-dependent interactive features may not work as intended until images are allowed. See Google’s guide to completing tasks without leaving a message.

Best Value
15.6 Inch Privacy Screen Filter for 16:9 Monitor 1920 x 1080 Resolution
  • Compatible Models: Width: 13 9/16" (13.5 inch/344 mm), Height: 7 5/8" (7.6 inch/194 mm), Diagonal: 15.6" (396.24 mm) widescreen laptops which have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Not touchscreen compatible !!! Not fit for 16:10.Do NOT rely solely on your laptop’s diagonal size when ordering. Use a ruler to measure your screen’s visible area (excluding the black bezels). If the width reads 344mm and height reads 194mm, this filter is a perfect match for your device.
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Which image setting should you choose?

Setting What to expect Best fit
Ask before displaying external images Images wait for your choice; you can display them for an individual message. This reduces automatic image-based open signaling. You prefer to decide message by message and are willing to load images manually when needed.
Always display external images Images appear automatically, and Google says this is required for Gmail dynamic email. You prioritize automatic image display and interactive email features over controlling when images load.

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