#unknown! displayed in excel where an inserted picture should be located

This problem still exist in August 2025.

First, check your excel version, Make sure you're using the latest version of Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, and that it's fully updated., also try opening in Excel for web, If it works there, it's most likely a compatibility issue with the IMAGE function in desktop Excel

Having the same issue. Open a .xlsx document, click any cell, insert a local image, save, close .xslx file, open it – now it's "#unknown" instead of image. Why does this function even exist if it doesn't work at all?

So I found somewhat of a fix for this. I put the pictures in the desktop version of excel and then I saved the file, made a copy of it and uploaded the file to OneDrive and the pictures are properly loaded into OneDrive so that's my fix to the problem/ Microsoft does need to fix it though.

The issue still remains present in April 2025. 

I found that if you have the original copy where the images are still showing, you can right-click the image, then select 'Picture in Cell', then select 'Place over Cell' and then resize the image to the size of the cell. It is a good workaround and allows the image to be viewed by our clients.

Common MS - it has been a year and this is still a present issue

I placed the picture within cell from Office 365 android. The picture is visible on Office 365 online, but becomes #unknown on Office 365 desktop.

I updated the excel and it still shows #unknown error.

Having the same issue as well. Tried all the solution i can found online, but still can't get a legit solution.

Frustrating!

This is happening to me too.  VERY frustrating. How can a bug like this exist in 2024 on a program this old and established?

I'm having the same issue.  I created the original spreadsheet on an Excel 365 desktop version and placed the images by copying an image and then simply pasting it and clicking to place the picture in the cell.  When pasting the images, I was never asked if I wanted to Embed vs. Link so I presumed that the default behavior was to Embed as it has always been.  I cannot determine if there is any linkage, but it does not appear to be linked but rather embedded.  The document is stored in my OneDrive folder.

Now, trying to open the file in Excel as part of an MS Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 install, this is the program saying the pictures are #UNKNOWN! with an Unavailable data type.

I cannot find anything that says that this behavior was being changed in any way between these versions. 

It's just flat-out broken.