How to Fix This Picture Can’t Be Displayed In Word?

"I am running Microsoft 365 on my Windows 10 computer. I need to insert PNG images into my document, but after I try to insert the pictures it is showing a box with a red x mark and the message "This image cannot currently be displayed."

Many users experience an odd issue with their Word document regarding a picture or an object is not showing up in Word. Whenever you open the Microsoft Word file, you can see white spaces or rectangles instead of the images that you have inserted earlier. This is a common issue in MS Word 2007 and 2010. Though the problem can also occur in the later versions of Microsoft Word. 

Many MS Office users complained that they can't insert pictures in a Word document. In a Word document, when I select insert, then picture, and select picture from my folder, it fails to insert. It only shows me a blank outline of the image but can't insert the picture in Word.

Moreover, it can also happen with a Word file that contains an object or graphic image. If this is the case, let us understand why such an error is caused and how to fix the Word Document not showing pictures issue with a few easy methods. 

Table of Contents

Why does Word say “This image cannot currently be displayed”?

How do I Fix this “Image Cannot Currently be Displayed” Error?

1. Use the "In line with text" wrapping style option
2. Change the view of the MS Word Application
3. Enable the Show drawings and text boxes on-screen option
4. Enable Print drawings created in Word option
5. Disable Use of draft quality
6. Disable Picture Placeholders
7. Change the problematic Video driver settings

Why does Word say “This image cannot currently be displayed”?

“The images that cannot be displayed currently” 

The main reason behind the issue “This image cannot currently be displayed” in Word is using the “wrapping style” option instead of the "In Line with text" Option with the pictures in the Word document.               

a) Word Wrapping Style

Generally, Text Wrapping is used to manage well the text surrounding the image. However, in some cases using the “Wrapping style” option with your image might make Microsoft Word not show the images. Using the inline option might fix the error. Along with the Word Wrapping style, the following are a few other reasons that can also cause Word not to show images. 

b) Picture Placeholder is Enabled

In some cases even after selecting the inline with text option, your image might not show up in the Word document. It might be because the Picture Placeholder option is enabled.  Generally, the Picture placeholder is used when the Word document has numerous images or items. 

In conditions where word files have a lot of images can be hard to process for a low-spec computer. If you enable the Picture Placeholder option, it will cease all the images to display. Yet images will be in the same position, they just won’t be displayed. This is the best way to reduce the load on the computer. Disabling the picture placeholder might fix your error. In the following sections, you find the instructions on how to change the settings. 

c) Other Settings

Following are a few other settings that can be a reason behind the missing photos in the Word file:

• Word document view is set to Draft view or Outline View.
• If you Show drawings and text boxes on-screen preference in the Options menu is disabled.
• When Print drawings are created in Word choice is deactivated.
• If you have enabled the Use draft quality option.

d) Glitches in Windows Video Driver

Finally, your images on the Word document might not show up content or pictures due to any glitches Windows video driver. However, this is highly rare and there is no possibility of this happening.

In the following section, you will find every little detail on how to fix the error.  

How do I Fix this “Image Cannot Currently be Displayed” Error?

Try the below-explained troubleshoots to solve your Word document not showing pictures problem. The following steps are according to Word in Office 365. The steps will be slightly different for Word 2007 and 2010 but the results will be the same. The difference in Word 2007 is that there is no File option, instead, you have to use the Microsoft Office button. 

1. Use the "In line with text" wrapping style option 

• Click on the inserted image
• Switch to the Right-click on the image
• Click on Wrap Text

• Select In line with Text option

2. Change the view of the MS Word Application

If you are using Draft or Outline view, then select one of the following views:

• Print Layout
• Full-Screen Reading 
• Web Layout

In MS Word 2016 or Office 365 just go to View and select on Print Layout. 

For Word 2010: Click File, and then click Print.

3. Enable the  Show drawings and text boxes on-screen option  

• Go to File and select Options
• Click on the Advanced tab
• Scroll down to see Show document content
• Enable Show drawings and text boxes on-screen option

• Hit OK 
• If you are using Word 2007, click on the Microsoft Office Button and click Word Options. As in Word 2007, instead of File, there is a Microsoft Office button.

4. Enable Print drawings created in Word option 

• Hit the File tab and go to Options
• Jump to Display
• In Printing options, enable Print drawings created in Word option

• Apply changes

 5. Disable Use draft quality

• Hit the File tab and go to Options
• Jump to Display
• In Printing options
• Uncheck Use the draft quality option
• Opt OK

6. Disable Picture Placeholders

• Go to File and select Options
• Click on the Advanced tab
• Scroll down to see Show document content
• Uncheck Show Picture Placeholders Preference

• Hit OK 

7. Change the problematic Video driver settings

For Windows 10:

• Go to Desktop and right-click
• Select Graphics Properties and then in the next window select Video
• Change your Windows video driver color quality settings and screen resolution.
• Try updating the video driver as well if a new update is available 

If none of the above fixations help you, then there might be a possibility that your word file is damaged and as a result of that, it is not showing some content. In such situations, you have to adapt to a  Word repair tool to fix the error. To do so, try to repair your DOC file / DOCX file using the Remo Word Repair utility. The Remo Repair Word is capable of solving any issues related to the Word document, regardless of the reason behind the corruption.

The best possible way to avoid any kind of error on Word doc is by creating multiple copies as a backup. However, you should know for a fact that even those copies are exposed to issues. Hence, it is strongly suggested to have Remo Repair on your Hands to fix any word-related issues.