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Does CSS background-image Work in HTML Email?
Sets one or more background images on an element, including gradients.
Quick Answer
Does background-image work in HTML email?
The CSS background-image property is supported in Gmail, Outlook (Mac / Web), Apple Mail, Samsung Email, and others. It is NOT supported in Outlook (Windows). Always include a safe fallback for unsupported clients.
Which Email Clients Support CSS background-image?
CSS support for background-image across email clients
| Email Client | Desktop | Mobile / Web | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gmail | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Outlook (Windows) | ✗ No | ? | — |
| Outlook (Mac / Web) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Apple Mail | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Yahoo! Mail | ~ Partial | ~ Partial | — |
| Samsung Email | ? | ✓ Yes | — |
| Thunderbird | ✓ Yes | ? | — |
| ProtonMail | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Fastmail | ✓ Yes | ? | — |
Notes
- #1 Partial. Not supported with non Google accounts.
- #2 Buggy. Requires at least one `<img>` element in the email to download all images.
- #3 Partial. Does not support multiple values. The comma between two values is removed.
- #4 Partial. Images URL must be between quotes.
- #5 Background images can be used in VML. See [backgrounds.cm](https://backgrounds.cm/) and [VML documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/vml/web-workshop---how-to-use-vml-on-web-pages-----fill--element).
- #6 Partial and buggy. Removes the entire `style` attribute or `<style>` tag when a `url()` function with a valid image URL is present. See [Gmail rolling out changes that strip CSS with background images](https://freshinbox.com/blog/gmail-rolling-out-changes-that-strip-background-image-css/) and [Gmail and background images](https://parcel.io/blog/gmail-and-background-images).
Frequently Asked Questions
Related CSS Properties
Test Your Email Now
Paste your HTML and see how it renders in clients that don't support background-image.