Notes:  The info in this article applies to the following scenarios when using the privacy dashboard:

  • You’ve chosen to export your Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps activity history from the Copilot page in the privacy dashboard.

  • You’ve made a request to Microsoft to view and download personal data that Microsoft holds about you and you’re downloading that data from the privacy dashboard.

When you choose to export or download info from the privacy dashboard, one or more files are saved to your device. You might see text files or comma-separated values (CSV) files. You can open these files to view your info. 

If the info that you exported or downloaded includes an image, you can find a reference to that image in one of the text or CSV files. But you can’t view the actual image in the file. Instead, the image is stored as Base64 encoding, which is a long string of letters, numbers, and characters. To find the Base64 encoding in the file, look for a string that starts with data:image/png;base64 or data:image/jpeg;base64.

To view the actual image, you can do either of the following:

  • Copy and paste the Base64 encoding string into the browser bar of your browser and then select Enter. All commonly used browsers (for example, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox) understand Base64 encoding and can display the image.

  • Copy and paste the Base64 encoding into a Base64 decoder, of which there are some publicly available for free on the internet.

Example of Base64 encoding

As an example, your text or CSV file might include the Base64 encoding for the following image.  

Cat on a rocket in space with a moon, clouds, and stars on string.

Note: This image was created by AI, but a human reviewed the image.

The following string is the Base64 encoding for that image. You can copy and paste this string and use either of the methods mentioned earlier in this article to display the image for yourself.

data:image/png;base64,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

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.