When you insert a ContactMonkey template into the compose window in New Outlook or Outlook on the Web (OWA) on Windows, the email can look incorrect in that window — but it renders correctly when sent.
If your email looks different from your design when you insert it into a new email window in New Outlook or Outlook on the web, and you haven’t sent it yet, this is a display issue in Outlook’s compose window. Send yourself a test email using Send & Track to see how it will actually look.
What You'll See
After you insert a template from the ContactMonkey add-in sidebar, the compose window may show:
- Text with its formatting stripped, such as text colors or fonts that don’t match your design
- Images that appear oversized
- Video thumbnails that don’t load
This is a display issue in the New Outlook and OWA compose window on Windows. It does not change how your email looks when it arrives in a recipient's inbox.
Workaround: Send a Test Email to Preview
To confirm how your email will actually look, send a test to yourself instead of relying on the compose window preview.
- Build or insert your template as usual from the ContactMonkey add-in sidebar.
- In the add-in, use Send Test to email a copy to yourself.
- Open the test email to confirm images, text formatting, and video thumbnails display correctly.
- Once the test looks right, send your campaign as normal.
The compose window preview is not reliable for New Outlook and Outlook on the web. The test email reflects what recipients will receive.
Troubleshooting
Problem: The sent test email also shows the formatting problems, not just the compose window.
Solution: This points to a separate issue. Contact our support@contactmonkey.com with the email JSON file so we can investigate. See How To Share Emails With ContactMonkey Support.