> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.emaillove.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use an External Image URL

> Load a public image URL in an email for countdown timers, live content, and assets hosted outside Email Love

Use an external image when the source already lives on a public CDN or needs to change after export, such as a countdown timer or personalized image.

For normal campaign images, placing the image in Figma and letting Email Love host it is simpler. See [Image Hosting](/plugin/images/hosting).

## Add an external image

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the image block">
    Select the `mj-image-Frame` in your email.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Properties">
    Open the **Properties** tab in the plugin.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste the source URL">
    Enter the complete public image URL, including `https://`, in the external image source field.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add accessibility and click behavior">
    Add alt text. Add a separate destination link if clicking the image should open a webpage.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview and test">
    Preview the email, then send a real inbox test to confirm the remote server allows email clients to load the image.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The external source replaces the Figma image when the email is exported. The Figma fill still acts as the design-time reference on the canvas.

## Source requirements

The image URL should:

* Use HTTPS
* Load without a login, cookie, or authorization header
* Return an image directly instead of an HTML page
* Stay available for the life of the campaign
* Use a format email clients support reliably, usually JPG, PNG, or GIF
* Respond quickly from the locations where your subscribers live

Do not use a temporary signed URL that expires after a few minutes or hours.

## Common uses

* Countdown timers
* Live inventory or pricing images
* Personalized images generated per recipient
* Assets hosted on your company's CDN
* Images managed by an ESP or dynamic-content provider

## Common problems

### The image works in a browser but not in email

Check whether the host blocks unknown user agents, hotlinking, or requests without cookies. Email clients fetch images through their own proxies and may not send the headers your website expects.

### The image is stale

Gmail and other clients cache remote images. A live source can update, but the reader may still see a cached copy. Follow your dynamic-image provider's cache guidance.

### The image changes shape

Keep the remote image at the same aspect ratio as the Figma image block. A different ratio can introduce cropping, stretching, or empty space.

## Related articles

* [Image Hosting](/plugin/images/hosting)
* [Adding Images to an Email](/plugin/images/add-images)
* [Embed a Countdown Timer](/plugin/images/countdown-timer)
* [Add Links and Alt Text to Images](/plugin/images/links-alt-text)