Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Stock Images Not Working in PowerPoint and Office

WPS Editor Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to insert stock images in Microsoft PowerPoint and other Office applications, despite trying Office repair and reinstallation.

How to Fix Stock Images Not Working in PowerPoint and Office

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint / Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Attempting to browse and insert online stock images into a presentation or document.
Observed behavior: Stock images fail to load or cannot be added. The issue persists even in Safe Mode or after a reinstallation, and it specifically affects only one user account on the device.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Windows 11 device, as modifying system network and security configurations is required to resolve this problem.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the 'Block unsecured images' setting in Internet Options

Disabling the security setting that blocks mixed content in Windows Internet Options will usually restore the ability to load stock images in Office.

Microsoft Office relies on underlying Windows internet settings to fetch online content. If unsecured images are being blocked, the stock image library will fail to display properly.

Open Internet Options

Click the Start button on Windows 11, type 'Control Panel', and open it. Navigate to 'Network and Internet', then click on 'Internet Options'.

Navigate to the Advanced Tab

In the Internet Properties window, click on the 'Advanced' tab located at the top right.

Locate Security Settings

Scroll down through the Settings list until you find the 'Security' section.

Uncheck the Block Setting

Find the option labeled 'Block unsecured images with other mixed content' and uncheck the box.

Apply and Restart

Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save the changes. Restart Microsoft PowerPoint or the affected Office application to verify if stock images are now loading.

Clear the 'Block unsecured images' setting in Internet Options

System Reboot Optional: While restarting the Office application is usually sufficient, restarting your computer can ensure the network settings are fully applied.

Solution 2

Contact Your Administrator for Group Policy Changes

Use this solution if the Advanced tab in Internet Options is missing or the specific security setting is grayed out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are stock images not loading in Microsoft PowerPoint?

This issue typically occurs when Windows Internet Options are configured to block unsecured images with other mixed content. Office apps rely on these system settings to fetch images from online libraries.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the stock image error?

No, if the underlying cause is a Windows network security setting or a Group Policy restriction, repairing, reinstalling, or running Office in Safe Mode will not resolve the issue.

Why is the Advanced tab missing in my Internet Options?

The Advanced tab is usually hidden due to a Group Policy enforced by your organization's IT department or system administrator to prevent unauthorized changes to network security.

Office App Problems