diff --git a/apps/mail/components/mail/mail-iframe.tsx b/apps/mail/components/mail/mail-iframe.tsx
index 937f370f0..916db4442 100644
--- a/apps/mail/components/mail/mail-iframe.tsx
+++ b/apps/mail/components/mail/mail-iframe.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export function MailIframe({ html, senderEmail }: { html: string; senderEmail: s
     [settings, senderEmail],
   );
   const [cspViolation, setCspViolation] = useState(false);
-  const [imagesEnabled, setImagesEnabled] = useState(false);
+  const [imagesEnabled, setImagesEnabled] = useState(settings?.externalImages || true);
   const iframeRef = useRef<HTMLIFrameElement>(null);
   const [height, setHeight] = useState(0);
   const { resolvedTheme } = useTheme();
diff --git a/packages/db/src/user_settings_default.ts b/packages/db/src/user_settings_default.ts
index 492a432ed..35935e474 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/user_settings_default.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/user_settings_default.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ export const defaultUserSettings = {
   language: 'en',
   timezone: 'UTC',
   dynamicContent: false,
-  externalImages: false,
+  externalImages: true,
   customPrompt: '',
   trustedSenders: [],
   isOnboarded: false,