SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Pictures Disappearing from SharePoint Enhanced Rich Text

Olivia Miller Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where pasted images disappear from a SharePoint list's Enhanced Rich Text column upon saving the item.

How to Fix Pictures Disappearing from SharePoint Enhanced Rich Text

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding pictures to a Multiple lines of text column configured for Enhanced Rich Text in a SharePoint list item.
Observed behavior: Pictures pasted into the Enhanced Rich Text field disappear entirely after the SharePoint item is saved, despite the field supporting images.

Before you start

Verify that your Multiple lines of text column is definitively set to allow Enhanced Rich Text (Rich text with pictures, tables, and hyperlinks) in the SharePoint list settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the 'Insert Image' Tool as a Workaround

Bypass the copy-paste bug by manually uploading or inserting images through the SharePoint rich text editor menu.

Pasting image blobs directly from your clipboard into the SharePoint text editor can sometimes trigger a known backend issue where the image fails to save to the database. Utilizing the built-in Insert Image option often resolves this.

Edit the list item

Navigate to your SharePoint list, select the affected item, and click the 'Edit' button to open the item details.

Access more options

Click inside the Multiple lines of text (Enhanced Rich Text) field. On the formatting toolbar that appears above, click on 'More options' (typically represented by three dots).

Insert the image manually

Select 'Insert image' from the dropdown menu. Choose your image file from your local computer or your SharePoint document library and insert it into the field.

Save the item

Click 'Save' at the bottom of the list item pane. Verify that the image successfully remains visible within the column.

Use the 'Insert Image' Tool as a Workaround

Workaround Status: This manual insertion method effectively acts as a reliable temporary workaround while backend copy-paste bugs are being resolved by Microsoft.

Solution 2

Submit a Support Request via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

If the issue persists even when inserting images manually, your IT admin must contact Microsoft Support to investigate backend failures.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management

While SharePoint bugs require Microsoft backend support, you can avoid frustrating rich-text editing issues altogether for your local and cloud documents by using WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative for creating professional reports with embedded images.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the 'Free Download' button.
2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
3. Create Rich Text Documents: Open WPS Writer to effortlessly draft documents, paste images securely, and save your work without losing rich text formatting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do pasted images disappear from my SharePoint list after saving?

This is often caused by a backend bug in Microsoft SharePoint where clipboard image data (blobs) are not correctly processed or saved to the server database within an Enhanced Rich Text field.

What is an Enhanced Rich Text column in SharePoint?

It is a specific setting applied to a 'Multiple lines of text' column in a SharePoint list. When enabled, it allows users to format text, add tables, embed hyperlinks, and insert pictures directly into the list item.

Are my disappearing SharePoint images permanently lost?

Yes, if the image disappears immediately after clicking 'Save', it means the image file was never successfully written to the backend SharePoint database. You will need to re-add the image using the 'Insert image' tool.

Document & File Issues