Exchange 2013 – Upload GAL Photos Using OWA Options (ECP)

The “self service” option in OWA 2013 (ECP) has been enhanced with the option for uploading GAL photo by the end user. In Exchange 2010 ECP, end users were able to edit their contact details, address etc depending on the role assignment policy. In Exchange 2013 ECP ( OWA –> Options), the end user can…

The “self service” option in OWA 2013 (ECP) has been enhanced with the option for uploading GAL photo by the end user.

In Exchange 2010 ECP, end users were able to edit their contact details, address etc depending on the role assignment policy. In Exchange 2013 ECP ( OWA –> Options), the end user can see his current photo in AD & change it with a new one if required.

Login to OWA 2013 & click on “Options”. This brings the familiar “My Account” page. By default, no photo is selected for the user (unless it is set already).

Photo displayed in 2013 ECP

The user can click on “Edit information” option at the bottom of the page to make changes to the account info, including changing the photo.

Edit account info in ECP 2013

This brings up a new window, with options to edit the account details. The first tab lets the user to change/upload photo.

Change photo in ECP 2013

Browse to the photo of your choice and save. The photo will be displayed in the “Options” page immediately.

Photo displayed in ECP 2013

And sure enough, photo gets displayed in your inbox. If you have Lync or SharePoint deployed, the photo will be displayed there as well.

Photo in inbox

This may be an option that needs to be restricted, depending on how strict the company policies are. You don’t want any offensive pictures displayed in the GAL ;)

13 Comments

  1. Yoshiyuki Matsumoto says:

    Hi, I have just changed my pic last night but it is not reflected on outlook and lync. How long does it take to change it ?

    Regards,
    Yoshi

    1. Rajith Jose Enchiparambil says:

      You will need to wait for AD to replicate around as the pic is stored in AD Yoshiyuki.
      It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes in theory ;-)

  2. Mohammed Imthyas says:

    do you have any link to block it, we dont want our users to change their Photos

    1. Rajith Enchiparambil says:

      You can block using group policy Imthyas

      1. Syed Nazar says:

        Can you please how to do it

        1. Rajith Jose Enchiparambil says:

          Hi Syed,

          You can do it for one user via ECP, for bulk using a script or use free third party tools like Exclaimer Outlook Photos.

          Thanks

  3. Would you know of a way to do this through ECP for all users rather than each user doing this for themselves?

  4. Hi,
    I found how to restrict the change from OWA but do you know how to restrict the change from Lync 2013 or Outlook 2013 ?

  5. Lutz Rahe says:

    Hi

    I´ve tried this too. In “my” inbox, I´ll see my Picture, but no one´s else. In our exchange System we use not the standart GAL, a Special one is used (filtered by several entries in user mailboxes) done via powershell. So I cann upload my Picture, but my kollegs can´t see it

    1. Rajith Jose Enchiparambil says:

      Thats strange Lutz.
      Do you see it in the Default Global Address List?

  6. Thanks for sharing I didn’t notice this
    need to update my default role shell to block that too

    1. Rajith Jose Enchiparambil says:

      You sure do ;)

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