Indesign embedded images poor quality

[Djk4li]

I am having issues with image embedding for future use. My embedded images, when deleted from my computer, show up as low quality by default, even if the settings on the image are high quality. If I leave the image on the computer, this doesn't happen. The low quality resolution outputs to pdf as well. 

I have tried setting my default image quality as well. 

[Michael Bullo]

Are you sure you have embedded the images? It sounds like they are still linked.

[Steve Werner]

You are able to tell whether an image is linked or embedded by looking at the Links panel. Do you see the circled icon on the Links panel as you see below?

[Bill Silbert]

As the other responders have said it sounds like your images are linked rather than embedded. You can embed the images  from within InDesign by selecting the image in the Links Panel and then useing The "Embed Link" option in the Links Panel pull-down menu. Once the images are embedded you will no longer need then original links in order to maintain the high quality of the images.

[BobLevine]

The real question here, for me, is why are you doing this? Just leave the images linked and be done with it. Embedding a few small images isn't a big deal but at some point, you will blow up the file size and risk corruption.