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After macOS Monterey 12.0.1 update my mail messages do not display any images

I recently install macOS Monterey12.0.1 and now my Mail messages do not display any images. I get a message at the top of each message "Your network preferences prevent content from loading privately" with and option to "Load content directly" which then allows the images to display in the message. How can I fix this so images display in the messages automatically?




[Re-Titled by Moderator]


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Nov 3, 2021 1:34 PM

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Question marked as Apple recommended

Open Mail. Then goto the menu bar and click on Mail, then go down to Preferences. Then in the preferences pop up box, at the far right click on Privacy. You will probably find either Protect Mail Activity checked or Block All Remote Content. If either of them are checked images will be blocked and you get the Load Remote Content box at the top of any mail with an image. I am not sure if only having Hide IP address does also.

Uncheck all or any of them and you should get images loaded in each mail.


Posted on Nov 4, 2021 10:23 AM

2 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Nov 5, 2021 1:35 PM in response to VLBIV

I guess I have to disagree with you. I have it set to protect on my system. A lot of email I get I don't care to see the images. So if its one I do then I click it.

When you have it clicked it is protecting you. If you unclick that then you have removed the protection. You will probably have to use a VPN to get the images and still protect your privacy.

You may already know this part but in case you don't. The trackers insert a single pixel in the image that comes from a different server. If you have images loading then everytime that pixel is downloaded the sending server knows what IP address it is sent to. Then they can compare that address to other collected data to know who you are and what you are then looking at.

The only other way would be to not go to any website that imbeds the tracking pixel image. Not a good choice.

You might look at Apple Private Relay as the alternative. You can research that.


132 replies
Question marked as Apple recommended

Nov 4, 2021 10:23 AM in response to Biffthecat

Open Mail. Then goto the menu bar and click on Mail, then go down to Preferences. Then in the preferences pop up box, at the far right click on Privacy. You will probably find either Protect Mail Activity checked or Block All Remote Content. If either of them are checked images will be blocked and you get the Load Remote Content box at the top of any mail with an image. I am not sure if only having Hide IP address does also.

Uncheck all or any of them and you should get images loaded in each mail.


Question marked as Helpful

Nov 5, 2021 1:21 PM in response to jodywoodcock

This does work and is a helpful tip, however that makes the "Protect Mail Activity" feature in Apple Mail essentially useless since no one wants to push the "Load Content Directly" button every time they receive an email. This is a poor design and is not up to Apple's standards, in my humble opinion.

Nov 5, 2021 1:34 PM in response to VLBIV

In Apples' efforts for Client Privacy, Protection and cutdown on Tracking - this feature was built into Monterey. That is not to say one Must use the feature if you do not what it. That option is still left to the User.


There is room for refinements and if there will be - may appear in future updates to Monterey.


All above is IMHO.


Question marked as Helpful

Nov 5, 2021 1:35 PM in response to VLBIV

I guess I have to disagree with you. I have it set to protect on my system. A lot of email I get I don't care to see the images. So if its one I do then I click it.

When you have it clicked it is protecting you. If you unclick that then you have removed the protection. You will probably have to use a VPN to get the images and still protect your privacy.

You may already know this part but in case you don't. The trackers insert a single pixel in the image that comes from a different server. If you have images loading then everytime that pixel is downloaded the sending server knows what IP address it is sent to. Then they can compare that address to other collected data to know who you are and what you are then looking at.

The only other way would be to not go to any website that imbeds the tracking pixel image. Not a good choice.

You might look at Apple Private Relay as the alternative. You can research that.


Nov 6, 2021 2:06 PM in response to VLBIV

I want to push the Load Content Directly button every time I want to see remote content. The Protect Mail Activity feature hides the IP address but also interferes with tracking pixels. Tracking pixels load when remote content is loaded. If I open an email message but don't load the remote content, tracking pixels aren't loaded.


Admittedly a working Protect Mail Activity would be better, as it would load remote content except for the tracking pixels. With the crippled Protect Mail Activity feature we have, we would get the same effect simply by checking both Hide IP Address and Block All Remote Content. But just checking Protect Mail Activity seems to be the better choice—in case Apple quietly fixes that feature.

Nov 8, 2021 5:17 PM in response to P. Phillips

P. Phillips wrote "... this feature was built into Monterey." This feature was said to have been built into Monterey. "This feature" was supposed to load content privately. But then it says the network preferences prevent the feature from working—without identifying the relevant network preferences. I want the feature.


It seems I would need to pay for iCloud+ in order for that feature to work. If you click on the question mark on the Privacy tab in Mail Preferences, and scroll down, you will find "Note: If you deselect the checkbox in Network preferences to use iCloud Private Relay (beta) for your Wi-Fi or Ethernet network, your IP address isn’t hidden from senders when using the network." But that checkbox isn't in Network preferences. It's in Apple ID preferences (in System Preferences).


OK, I subscribed to iCloud+, checked Private Relay (beta), verified that Protect Mail Activity was checked, and even restarted Monterey, and Mail is still telling me to Load Content Directly. I tried to cancel the iCloud+ upgrade but it's telling me I can't manage now. At any rate I've paid 99 cents and I'll have the upgraded iCloud+ for a month.


The feature does not exist.

Nov 17, 2021 1:26 AM in response to jodywoodcock

Thank you for your instructions but despite following them and re-index all the mail accounts. In fact I removed all the accounts and again created them however there is no change in the issue. Mail does not show the content or body of the mail even if I click on it to be opened separately. Apple Support to please comment on the issue and help resolve the issue.

After macOS Monterey 12.0.1 update my mail messages do not display any images

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