Pictures inserted in cells disappear after closing and reopening a workbook

Windows 11 Home, 23H2, 22631.4317

MS Office L T S C Professional Plus 2024, version 2408, Build 17932.20130

Example:

After saving, closing and reopening workbook, this is the result:

I have tried all of the generic troubleshooting, because I have seen multiple people experiencing this issue - none of them work.

1. Display options for workbook are all checked (for object, show all)

2. Pictures are embedded, not linked to locally stored files - otherwise I wouldn't be able to retain them in online platforms (e.g. opening in Excel from Android, once storing in One-drive). Even if they were linked somehow, original files were never moved.

When I upload the very same workbook in One-drive and open through any online platform (via browser - Excel Online, on Android - Excel app / Office 365 app) pictures are showing as intended. Problem occurs only on desktop app. I have already tried to reinstall MS Office, clean install, all updates - problem persists.

I do not want any workaround solutions like:

- using VBA scripts,

- or inserting pictures over cells.

as this is a proper bug and shouldn't require advanced skills from casual users.

Inserting pictures over cells and embedding them manually - change size to fit into cell, set Move and size with cells is just partial solution - pictures will stay after closing and reopening, but you cannot refer to them properly - e.g. I want to have a result of X LOOKUP to be a cell with Picture inserted into cell (doesn't return a picture in cell if picture is placed above cell - doesn't matter if it is set to Move and size with cells. X LOOKUP with pictures inserted in cells works perfectly until I close and reopen locally on desktop app ( #UNKNOWN! everywhere), but continues to work perfectly in before-mentioned "online" platforms - though I am a bit more advanced user and lot of stuff I do can only be done in desktop app - as soon as I want to make some more advanced actions, I need to go back to desktop and all I get is a bunch of #UNKNOWN! where Pictures inserted into cells are supposed to be.

Please solve this bug - it is very frustrating - I have lost straight 12 hours of my life trying to solve it, but I am at my wit's end.

Thank you very much for reply.