<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "macOS: 27.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "AppKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/AppKit/NSMenuItem/ImageVisibility",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Enumeration",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Enumeration",
    "modules" : [
      "AppKit"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:@E@NSMenuItemImageVisibility"
  },
  "title" : "NSMenuItem.ImageVisibility"
}
-->

# NSMenuItem.ImageVisibility

Values for the `preferredImageVisibility` property of NSMenuItem.
When a menu item is initialized, the default value for the item’s image visibility is Automatic.

```
enum ImageVisibility
```

## Topics

### Getting visibility values

[`NSMenuItem.ImageVisibility.automatic`](/documentation/AppKit/NSMenuItem/ImageVisibility/automatic)

AppKit should choose whether the item’s image is visible, considering the system configuration.

[`NSMenuItem.ImageVisibility.hidden`](/documentation/AppKit/NSMenuItem/ImageVisibility/hidden)

The item image should not be visible.

[`NSMenuItem.ImageVisibility.visible`](/documentation/AppKit/NSMenuItem/ImageVisibility/visible)

The item image should always be visible. Note that in some cases, AppKit may still hide the image, overriding this preference.



---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)