Add Picture Tools tab when composing a message in the main Outlook 2016
In order to access the Picture Tools tab, I first have to "Pop-out" my message to a new Window.

15 comments
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Tony commented
By when can Microsoft bring back "Picture Tools" into Outlook 2017? it so regret after upgrading to 2017.....
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Anonymous commented
Hello everyone,
Here is a solution that some might find handy:1. Go to Outlook>File>Options>Customize Ribbon
2. In the "Choose commands from:" dropdown choose "All Commands"
3. Scroll down about half way and select "Insert Picture"
4. You might not be able to add this right away, so click "New Tab" and give it a name like "Insert Pics" then click "Add>>"
5. This will create a new tab in your ribbon called "Insert Pics" and will include the insert pic option that will work when responding to images without the need to pop out the message.I wish Outlook just included the entire "Insert" tab in the main ribbon rather than doing this, but if you work a lot with visuals like myself this might be a fix till that happens.
Cheers. -
Tabby commented
This original post was from 2017, and it's STILL not fixed?? I shouldn't have to pop out my email just to get the picture tools tab.
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Nicole Vallencourt commented
Seriously! And why are all the actions on the insert tab the only ones we can't add to the quick access toolbar? I wish I didn't have to pop the message out to insert quick parts as well. It's an annoying and unnecessary interruption in my workflow.
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Daniel commented
I dont know how these forums work, does microsoft ever respond to these? Can I expect an answer?
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Abdus Qazi commented
This is a crucial tool to make my replies efficient (thats the point of emails after all) and will be extremely TIME SAVING and LESS ANNOYING to be able to format pictures, without having to pop-out the reply email.
I am hoping that the Outlook dev team will be to add this soon to the ribbon without having to popup the email. The thing already exists. Just needs to be made available in another view.
Outlook team,
Dont be fooled by few comments and votes for this discussion. This is one of those thing that when available, scores will use it. -
Greg Bond commented
I agree with Mr. Bradshaw. Even a keyboard shortcut to Insert>Picture would be better than having to "Pop Out".
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Anonymous commented
button on toolbar/ribbon to change profile pic
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Anonymous commented
It would be much more convenient to show more than just the Compose Tools -> Message tab when replying to an email WITHOUT having to use the Pop Out button. Many times I will reply to a message and have to paste an image in but I always change the picture style; however, the Picture Tools -> Format tab does not show unless you do the Pop Out, which is not ideal.
Need to be able to see this tab and probably other options as well when replying.
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PDUB65 commented
By going back to the way outlook was 5 years ago.
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Neto commented
Got a brilliant idea for you geniuses... How about bringing back drawing and shapes to office 365? Seriously, who was behind removing that?
We have now lost the ability to point at things in embedded pictures in an email because we no longer have drawing and shapes. Good Job
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Pam commented
Bring back the "tools" button!
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Margianne commented
Previous Outlooks allowed clipart to be inserted from the Insert panel. Outlook 16 (except for clipart with authors names which is horrible) does not and it is terribly missed.
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Les. commented
'Insert Picture' button more accessible would be good.
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Louis Meert commented
Hello Microsoft,
When inserting a picture into a word document or Email in Outlook, and I would like to call out a specific section of the inclusion, I typically have to copy it to MS Paint, and add a box around it, and copy it back. This is my way of saying 'Hey guys look right here!'.
The user has access to a variety of tools when formatting a picture including crop, resize, shadow, etc. Almost everything Paint can do. One thing that is missing is the ability to add a geometric shape. It sure would be handy to be able to take a screencap, and add these call-outs in Outlook, just as I would in MS Paint instead of the whole copy-cut-paste-copy again routine. Can you make this happen?