How to Fix “This Picture Can’t Be Displayed” Error in PowerPoint?

Author:

Trish Dixon

Published:

July 12, 2024

Updated:

July 13, 2024

Are you struggling with the frustrating “This picture can’t be displayed” error in PowerPoint? This common issue can disrupt your presentation flow and leave you scrambling for solutions. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to resolve this problem, ensuring your images display correctly in your PowerPoint slides.

Understanding the “This Picture Can’t Be Displayed” Error

Before we jump into solutions, let’s briefly examine what causes this error in PowerPoint.

Common Causes:

Corrupted image files
Incompatible file formats
Large file sizes
Broken file links
Software glitches
Outdated PowerPoint version
Conflicts with other applications

Now that we understand the potential causes, let’s explore how to fix this issue step by step.

1. Check Image File Format Compatibility

PowerPoint supports various image formats, but some may cause display problems. Ensuring your images are in a compatible format is crucial for smooth presentation performance.

Supported Image Formats in PowerPoint:

Format	File Extension
JPEG	.jpg, .jpeg
PNG	.png
GIF	.gif
BMP	.bmp
TIFF	.tif, .tiff

How to Check and Convert File Formats:

Right-click the image file
Select “Properties”
Check the file extension
If unsupported, use an image editing tool to convert to a compatible format

Pro tip: JPEG and PNG are the most reliable formats for PowerPoint presentations. JPEG works best for photographs and complex images with many colors, while PNG is ideal for graphics, logos, and images with transparent backgrounds.

Converting Image Formats:

To convert an image to a supported format:

Open the image in a photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or even Microsoft Paint
Go to “File” > “Save As”
Choose a supported format from the dropdown menu
Adjust quality settings if available (for JPEG)
Save the new version of the image

Remember to maintain a balance between image quality and file size when converting formats.

2. Repair Corrupted Image Files

Corrupted image files often lead to display errors in PowerPoint. These corruptions can occur due to incomplete downloads, file transfer issues, or storage device problems.

Steps to Repair Corrupted Images:

Open the image in an editing software (e.g., Photoshop, GIMP)
Resave the image in a supported format
If that doesn’t work, try online image repair tools like JPEG Repair or Stellar Phoenix JPEG Repair

Using Online Repair Tools:

Upload your corrupted image to the online tool
Follow the tool’s repair process
Download the repaired image
Try inserting the repaired image into your PowerPoint presentation

If online tools don’t work, consider using the original image source if available.

3. Reduce File Size

Large image files can cause PowerPoint to struggle with displaying them. Optimizing your images can significantly improve PowerPoint’s performance and reduce the likelihood of display errors.

How to Reduce Image File Size:

Use image compression tools like TinyPNG or JPEGmini
Resize the image to a smaller resolution using photo editing software
Save in a format with better compression (e.g., JPEG instead of PNG for photos)

Using PowerPoint’s Built-in Compression:

Insert the image into your presentation
Select the image
Go to “Picture Tools” > “Format” > “Compress Pictures”
Choose your desired resolution and compression options
Click “OK” to apply

Remember: Balance quality and file size for optimal performance. Aim for a resolution that looks good on screen but doesn’t unnecessarily bloat your file size.

4. Fix Broken File Links

If you’ve moved or renamed image files, PowerPoint may lose track of them, resulting in the “This picture can’t be displayed” error.

Steps to Update Broken Links:

Click “File” > “Info” > “Edit Links to Files”
Select the broken link
Click “Change Source” and locate the correct file
Update all instances of the broken link

Preventing Broken Links:

To avoid this issue in the future:

Keep all presentation files and linked images in the same folder
Use relative paths when linking files
If sharing the presentation, use the “Package Presentation for CD” feature to include all linked files

5. Clear the PowerPoint Cache

Sometimes, PowerPoint’s cache can cause display issues. Clearing this cache can often resolve persistent image problems.

How to Clear PowerPoint Cache:

Close all PowerPoint presentations
Press Windows key + R
Type “%localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OfficeFileCache”
Delete all files in this folder
Restart PowerPoint

Note: The exact path may vary depending on your Office version. Adjust the “16.0” part accordingly.

6. Update PowerPoint

Outdated software can lead to various issues, including image display problems. Keeping PowerPoint up to date ensures you have the latest bug fixes and improvements.

Steps to Update PowerPoint:

Open any Office application
Go to “File” > “Account”
Click “Update Options” > “Update Now”
Restart PowerPoint after the update

If you’re using Office 365, updates are usually applied automatically. However, you can manually check for updates using the above method.

7. Repair Microsoft Office Installation

If updating doesn’t help, try repairing your Office installation. This can fix issues with corrupted Office files that might be causing the image display problem.

How to Repair Office:

Open Control Panel
Go to “Programs and Features”
Find Microsoft Office in the list
Right-click and select “Change”
Choose “Repair” and follow the prompts

This process may take some time, but it can resolve many Office-related issues.

8. Use PowerPoint’s Picture Tools

PowerPoint offers built-in tools to help with image issues. These tools can often resolve display problems and optimize your images for better performance.

Using Picture Tools:

Select the problematic image
Go to “Picture Tools” > “Format”
Click “Compress Pictures”
Choose compression options and apply

Additional Picture Tools:

Reset Picture: This option can restore an image to its original state if you’ve applied formatting that might be causing issues.
Change Picture: Allows you to replace the problematic image with a new one while maintaining size and position.

9. Insert Images as Linked Objects

Linking images instead of embedding them can sometimes resolve display issues, especially for large files.

Steps to Insert Linked Images:

Go to “Insert” > “Object”
Select “Create from file”
Browse and select your image
Check the “Link to file” box
Click “OK”

Note: When using linked objects, you must keep the original image file in the same relative location, or PowerPoint will lose the link.

10. Check for Conflicts with Other Software

Other programs can sometimes interfere with PowerPoint’s image display. This is particularly true for antivirus software and other applications that interact with files.

Troubleshooting Software Conflicts:

Temporarily disable antivirus software
Close other resource-intensive applications
Restart your computer and open only PowerPoint

If the issue resolves when other software is disabled, you may need to adjust settings in the conflicting software or seek help from its support team.

11. Use PowerPoint’s Safe Mode

Safe Mode can help identify if add-ins or settings are causing the issue. It starts PowerPoint without loading add-ins or custom settings.

How to Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode:

Press Windows key + R
Type “powerpnt /safe” and press Enter
If images display correctly, disable add-ins one by one to find the culprit

Disabling Add-ins:

In PowerPoint, go to “File” > “Options” > “Add-Ins”
At the bottom, select “COM Add-ins” from the dropdown and click “Go”
Uncheck add-ins one by one, restarting PowerPoint each time to test

12. Recreate the Slide

As a last resort, recreating the problematic slide can often solve the issue. While time-consuming, this method can be effective when all else fails.

Steps to Recreate a Slide:

Create a new slide
Copy content from the old slide (except images)
Insert images fresh into the new slide
Delete the old slide if the new one works correctly

When recreating slides, consider using PowerPoint’s built-in layouts to ensure consistent design and proper image placement.

Preventing Future “This Picture Can’t Be Displayed” Errors

To avoid encountering this error in future presentations, consider these best practices:

Use supported file formats: Stick to JPEG and PNG for most images.
Optimize image sizes: Compress images before inserting them into PowerPoint.
Keep files organized: Store presentation and image files in the same folder.
Regular updates: Keep PowerPoint and Windows up to date.
Backup images: Always have a backup of your original image files.
Use PowerPoint’s built-in tools: Regularly compress and optimize images within PowerPoint.
Avoid copying and pasting: Insert images using the “Insert” function rather than copy-pasting from other sources.
Check file permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access and modify image files.
Use cloud storage: Services like OneDrive can help maintain file links across devices.
Regular system maintenance: Perform regular disk cleanups and malware scans to keep your system healthy.

Final Thoughts

The “This picture can’t be displayed” error in PowerPoint can be frustrating, but with these methods, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your presentations back on track. Remember to start with the simplest solutions, like checking file formats and reducing file sizes, before moving on to more complex troubleshooting steps.

Remember, patience and systematic troubleshooting are key to resolving these technical challenges. If you continue to face issues after trying these solutions, don’t hesitate to seek help from Microsoft Support or your organization’s IT department. They may have additional insights or tools to address persistent problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my images suddenly disappear in PowerPoint?

Images can suddenly disappear in PowerPoint due to broken links, corrupted files, or software glitches. To fix this, try relinking the images, repairing the corrupted files, or repairing your PowerPoint installation.

Can I use WebP images in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint doesn’t natively support WebP images. To use WebP images in your presentation, you’ll need to convert them to a supported format like JPEG or PNG before inserting them into your slides.

How can I quickly reduce the file size of my PowerPoint presentation?

To quickly reduce the file size of your PowerPoint presentation, use PowerPoint’s built-in compression tool. Go to ‘Picture Tools’ > ‘Format’ > ‘Compress Pictures’, then choose your desired compression options to reduce overall file size.

What should I do if none of the common fixes work for the ‘This picture can’t be displayed’ error?

If you’ve tried all common solutions without success, consider reinstalling Microsoft Office. If the problem persists, it’s best to seek help from Microsoft Support or your IT department, as there might be underlying system issues causing the problem.

Can online PowerPoint (Office 365) have the same image display issues?

Yes, online versions of PowerPoint can experience similar image display issues. Many of the solutions applicable to desktop versions, especially those related to file formats and sizes, also apply to the online version. However, some troubleshooting steps may differ for the cloud-based application.

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