How to stop link previews from being displayed in emails

Problem:

A preview card is inserted for links in emails opened in Outlook on the web (OWA) or Outlook.com. You want to disable this feature because, for example, it disrupts the layout of email content, including email signatures (as shown in Fig. 1.).

Fig. 1. A link preview automatically added to a signature in Outlook on the web.

Solution:

The problem is caused by the Link preview feature that is turned on automatically in web-based Outlook versions. Choose your Outlook version below to learn how to disable it on your account.

• Outlook on the web (OWA) for Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com
• Outlook on the web (OWA) for an on-premises Exchange Server

As an Exchange Online or Exchange Server admin, you can also disable the Link preview feature for selected users or for the entire organization. See this section to learn how to do it.

Outlook on the web (Microsoft 365) and Outlook.com

1. Sign in to Outlook on the web or Outlook.com and click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Mail > Compose and reply. 
3. Clear the Preview links in email checkbox in the Link preview section (Fig. 2.) and save your changes.

Fig. 2. Disabling the Link preview feature in Outlook on the web (Microsoft 365).

The Link preview feature is now disabled and URL previews will no longer be displayed in your received messages.

Outlook on the web (on-premises Exchange Server)

1. Open Outlook on the web (OWA) in your browser. Click the Settings (gear) button in the top-right corner and then click Options (Fig. 3.).

Fig. 3. Accessing OWA options.

2. Go to Mail > Layout > Link preview.
3. Clear the Preview links in email checkbox and click Save (Fig. 4.).

Fig. 4. Disabling the Link preview feature in Outlook on the web (on-premises Exchange Server).

The Link preview feature is now disabled and URL previews will no longer be displayed in your received messages.

How to disable the Link preview feature for all or selected users in your organization

Complete the following steps to disable the Link preview feature for all or selected users in your Exchange Online (Microsoft 365) or Exchange Server organization.

1. Run Windows PowerShell (for Exchange Online) or Exchange Management Shell (for an on-premises Exchange Server) using an admin account.
2. (Exchange Online only) Connect to Exchange Online with PowerShell. Learn more
3. Run one of the following commands, depending on your needs:
   • Set-OrganizationConfig -LinkPreviewEnabled $false – disables the Link preview feature for the entire organization and prevents your users from enabling it on their own.
   • Get-Mailbox -Resultsize Unlimited | Set-MailboxMessageConfiguration -LinkPreviewEnabled $false – disables the Link preview feature for the entire organization but allows your users to enable it on their own.
   • Set-MailboxMessageConfiguration -Identity <user_address> -LinkPreviewEnabled $false – disables the Link preview feature for a single user but allows that user to enable it on their own.