Introduction To WordPress Featured Images

Are you having trouble seeing your featured images in WordPress? You’re with someone. Many WordPress users encounter this issue. Because they attract visitors and enhance the user experience, featured photos are an essential part of every website’s design. 

When they don’t appear as they should, it can be really unpleasant. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! 

Specifically, what are featured images? Featured photos, also known as post thumbnails, are the primary images for your blog posts or pages. They usually appear at the top of the article or as thumbnails for blog posts. 

Since these images have the potential to significantly enhance the visual appeal and interactivity of your content, they are an essential element of any website design.

The thumbnail of your WordPress post or page is a featured image. Its objective is to entice readers and provide them with an overview of the material. Adding a featured image to your post improves both search engine optimization and the visual appeal of your WordPress website.

A featured image should be separate from the opening images of your blog posts. Since its primary purpose is to promote your content, a featured image is usually shown on your archive page or blog post list as well as when you publish your WordPress article on social media. 

This post from CapraHost Blog will address the issue of WordPress Featured Image Not Appearing properly. We’ll provide six solutions to this issue along with guidance on how to make it show up automatically in WordPress posts.

What Is a WordPress Featured Image: Importance & Key Aspects

WordPress chooses a featured image automatically for each post and page.

Like a book or magazine cover, you can upload an image to be used as the cover media for a post or page. You can upload a featured image for each post and page. The article becomes the primary image for that specific item on the website when it is shared on social media or other websites. 

The featured image is the last item that shows up automatically when you create a feed or gallery of your blog posts or other web pages. This will allow you to display your posts more like a media portfolio than a list of links in text.

You don’t have to upload a fresh version of the image each time you share it because it is taken straight from the source.

The following are important details regarding featured images:

• Represents content: A well-chosen featured image should capture the essence of your content, whether it’s a recipe, a travel destination, or a business concept.
• Shown in multiple places: Featured images appear in various locations on your site, depending on your theme. This can include your blog listing page, individual blog posts, social media shares, and even search results.
• Improves engagement: Eye-catching featured images can significantly boost user engagement by making your content more visually appealing and thus, more likely to be clicked on.

Overall, featured images are a powerful tool for enhancing the look and feel of your WordPress website, while also improving user experience.

What if the Featured Image Doesn’t Work: Issues With Images

The featured image is an essential element of many websites and blog posts, often serving as the first visual representation of your content. However, issues with featured images not working can arise, disrupting your site’s aesthetic and functionality. 

Below are common reasons why a featured image might fail to work and solutions to address them.

1: Incorrect Image Format or Size

One of the most frequent issues is using an incompatible image format or size. Websites often require images in specific formats like JPEG or PNG and within certain dimensions to display properly.If your featured image doesn’t appear, check its format and resize it to meet your theme’s requirements. Tools like Photoshop, Canva, or free online editors can help you adjust your image to the correct specifications.

2: Theme or Plugin Conflicts

Another common culprit is a conflict between your theme and plugins. Some plugins may override your theme settings or interfere with how featured images are displayed. To resolve this, deactivate your plugins one by one and refresh your site to identify the conflicting plugins. If the issue persists, consult your theme’s documentation or support team to ensure compatibility.

3: Caching Issues

Caching can prevent updates to your website, causing old or missing featured images to display. Clear your browser and site cache to see if this resolves the issue. Additionally, if you use a content delivery network (CDN), clear its cache as well. This ensures that the most recent version of your site, including the featured image, is visible.

4: Broken Image Links

If your image URL is broken or incorrectly linked, the featured image won’t load. This can happen if the image is moved or deleted from the media library. Double-check that the image is still stored in your WordPress media library and ensure the correct file path is assigned as the featured image.

5: Server or Hosting Issues

Sometimes, server or hosting issues can cause featured images not to load. Low server resources or improper file permissions can block image uploads. Ensure your hosting plan supports your website’s needs and check file permissions using an FTP client. Correct permissions for image files are typically set to 644.

6: Outdated WordPress or Theme

Running an outdated version of WordPress or your theme can also cause featured image issues. Always ensure your WordPress core, theme, and plugins are updated to their latest versions. These updates often include bug fixes and compatibility improvements that can resolve image display problems.

7: Missing Featured Image Settings

If the featured image option is not visible when editing your post, it might be disabled in your theme or WordPress settings. Navigate to the “Screen Options” tab in the post editor and ensure “Featured Image” is checked. 

If your theme doesn’t support featured images, consider switching to one that does or customizing it to add this functionality.

A non-functional featured image can disrupt your site’s user experience and impact its overall appearance. However, by diagnosing the issue methodically—checking image formats, resolving conflicts, clearing caches, and keeping your site updated—you can quickly restore functionality. 

If none of the above solutions work, consult your theme or hosting provider’s support team for additional assistance.

Why Is My WordPress Featured Image Not Showing

If your WordPress featured image is not showing, it could be due to various reasons. Common issues include incorrect image uploads, theme compatibility problems, plugin conflicts, image file issues, cache problems, featured images not set properly, or conflicts with custom code. 

Let’s explore these in detail to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

1: Incorrect Image Upload

One of the most common reasons for a missing featured image is an incorrect image upload. Sometimes, the image may not have been successfully uploaded to your WordPress media library, or there could be an issue with the file format or size. 

Ensure that the image file is compatible (JPG, PNG, or GIF) and that it meets the recommended size limits (usually under 2MB). If the upload process fails, try re-uploading the image or check for any errors during the upload process.

You can also try uploading the image manually via FTP if the media uploader fails. If the image is in the correct format and size but still doesn’t show, try uploading a different image to see if the issue persists. 

This can help pinpoint if the problem lies with the image itself or the WordPress installation.

2: Theme Issues

Your WordPress theme may be causing the featured image not to display properly. Some themes may not support featured images or have a specific configuration that hides them on certain pages or post types. 

Choose an Appropriate Theme and Check your theme settings to ensure that featured images are enabled. Additionally, inspect your theme’s single post or page templates. If custom code has been added to hide images, you may need to modify the template files.

If your theme is outdated or incompatible with the latest version of WordPress, updating it might resolve the issue. Alternatively, switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One can help determine if the problem is theme-related. 

If the image appears with the default theme, you may need to contact the theme developer for further assistance or consider using a different theme.

3: Plugin Conflicts

Sometimes, plugins can conflict with your theme or other plugins, preventing featured images from displaying correctly. To identify if a plugin is causing the issue, deactivate all plugins and check if the featured image reappears. 

If the image shows up, reactivate the plugins one by one and test the site after each activation to determine which plugin is causing the conflict.

Common culprits include image optimization plugins, caching plugins, and custom post type plugins. 

Once you identify the conflicting plugin, you can either look for an alternative plugin, update the existing one, or contact the plugin developer for a solution. If you are unable to find the conflict, consider testing the site in a staging environment to troubleshoot without affecting your live website.

4: Image File Issues

If your image file is corrupted or in a non-compatible format, it might not display as the featured image. WordPress supports JPG, PNG, and GIF formats, but if you’re using an uncommon file type, it may not show up properly. 

Check the image file’s integrity by opening it in an image viewer or editor to ensure it displays correctly.

Additionally, very large image files (in terms of dimensions or file size) may cause issues. Resizing the image to fit within the recommended dimensions (often around 1200×800 pixels) can help prevent it from being cut off or not displaying at all. 

You can also use an image optimization plugin to reduce the file size without compromising on quality.

5: Cache Problems

Caching issues are another common reason why your featured image may not show. If your site is cached, either by a caching plugin or by the browser, the changes to the featured image might not show up immediately. 

Clear both your browser cache and the cache generated by caching plugins. You may also want to disable caching temporarily to test whether it’s causing the issue.

If you’re using a Content Delivery Network (CDN), clear the CDN cache as well. Sometimes, cached versions of pages may not refresh with the new image, causing it to not display correctly. 

After clearing the caches, revisit your website to see if the featured image appears.

6: Featured Image Not Set

It’s possible that you simply haven’t set the featured image properly. In WordPress, every post or page has an option to set a featured image. If you haven’t selected an image, it won’t appear. 

To set the featured image, open the post or page editor, find the “Featured Image” option in the sidebar, and select the image you want to display.

Ensure the image is selected correctly and updated. If the image is still not showing despite being set, try updating the post or page after selecting the image. 

Additionally, check if the post type or custom post type supports featured images, as some do not by default.

7: Custom Code Conflicts

If you’ve added custom code to your WordPress site, it could be interfering with the display of the featured image. Custom code in your theme’s functions.php file or custom plugins may have inadvertently altered how featured images are handled. 

Check any recent code changes, especially if they modify the post layout or image display settings.

Disabling custom code or restoring the default theme templates can help identify if the issue is related to custom changes. If custom code is necessary, ensure it’s correctly written and compatible with your theme and WordPress version. 

You might need to consult with a developer if you’re unsure about the code causing the issue. 

How to Fix Featured Images Not Showing in WordPress: 6 Quick Ways

You may upload featured photos to almost any WordPress theme and set them to appear in various parts of your website, including the main content area or the sidebar menu.

Check our guide on adding featured pictures or article thumbnails in WordPress if you’re having problems troubleshooting this issue. First, you must understand how to upload featured images.

Uploading a cover picture by mistake instead of a featured image is a common mistake. Some themes even automatically set the first image in a post to be the thumbnail for the post.

Keeping that in mind, let us now discuss how to resolve any possible problems that can arise. Please use our links to quickly go to the issue you’re currently experiencing.

• Fix the HTTP Error When Uploading a Featured Image
• Fix the Plugins or Themes
• Disable Lazy Loading
• Allow Featured Images for Viewing
• Fix Featured Image Not Showing on a Blog Post Gallery Page
• Add Custom Code to Fix Featured Image Issues

Featured images are an essential component of a WordPress website since they improve the site’s aesthetic appeal and audience engagement. On occasion, though, you could run into problems with featured photos not displaying properly. 

We suggest 6 easy solutions to WordPress’s featured picture issue.

1: Fix the HTTP Error When Uploading a Featured Image

An HTTP error often occurs when uploading featured images due to server limitations or incompatible file formats. Here’s how to resolve it:

1. Resize the Image: Large image sizes may cause the server to time out. Use an image editing tool to reduce the file size before uploading.
2. Change Image File Format: If your image is in a format like. web, consider converting it to a more compatible format like .jpg or .png.
3. Increase Server Resources: Modify the PHP memory limit by adding this line to your wp-config.php file:

• Define (‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M‘);

4. Update the Media Library Settings: Check your WordPress media settings to ensure the upload path is configured correctly. Navigate to Settings > Media and confirm the folder permissions are set to 755 or 775.
5. Check Server Logs: If the issue persists, review your server logs or contact your hosting provider for assistance.

By addressing these potential causes, you’ll likely resolve HTTP errors that prevent featured image uploads.

2: Fix the Plugins or Themes

Plugin and theme conflicts can also prevent featured images from displaying correctly. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

1. Deactivate Plugins: Deactivate all plugins to identify whether a specific plugin is causing the issue. Reactivate them one by one while checking if the problem persists.
2. Switch to Default Theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Three) to determine if your theme is responsible.
3. Update Plugins and Themes: Ensure all plugins and themes are up to date, as outdated versions can conflict with WordPress’s core functionality.
4. Use Debug Mode: Enable WordPress debug mode to identify any errors. Add the following code to your wp-config.php file:

• Define (‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
• Define (‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);

5. Contact Developer Support: If you’ve pinpointed the issue to a specific plugin or theme, reach out to the developer for further assistance.

3: Disable Lazy Loading

Lazy Loading is a performance optimization feature that delays image loading until it is visible in the viewport. However, it may interfere with featured images. Here’s how to disable it:

1. Disable Lazy Loading via Plugin: If you’re using a caching or optimization plugin, disable lazy loading in the plugin’s settings.
2. Disable Lazy Loading via Code: Add this snippet to your theme’s functions.php file:
   • add_filter(‘wp_lazy_loading_enabled’, ‘__return_false’);
3. Test the Changes: Check whether your featured images now display correctly after disabling lazy loading.

Disabling lazy loading may slightly impact site performance, so monitor the overall impact and use it only if necessary.

4: Allow Featured Images for Viewing

Sometimes, featured images may not be allowed for viewing due to user roles or permission issues. Here’s how to address this:

1. Check User Permissions: Ensure your user role has the necessary permissions to upload and view featured images.
2. Verify Theme Settings: Some themes have settings to enable or disable featured images. Navigate to your theme’s settings and confirm the option is enabled.
3. Clear Cache: Clear both browser and server cache to ensure the latest settings are applied.
4. Review Content Visibility Settings: Make sure the featured image is not hidden via page or post visibility settings.

Allowing featured images for all necessary user roles and configurations ensures they display correctly.

5: Fix Featured Image Not Showing on a Blog Post Gallery Page

If your featured images aren’t showing in a blog post gallery, the issue might lie in your theme or page builder settings. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Check Blog Layout Settings: Go to Appearance > Customize > Blog Settings and ensure the featured image option is enabled.
2. Update the Page Builder Plugin: If you’re using a page builder, make sure it’s updated to the latest version.
3. Review Image Size Settings: Ensure the featured images meet the size requirements specified in your theme or gallery settings.
4. Regenerate Thumbnails: Use the Regenerate Thumbnails plugin to recreate all image sizes used in your theme.

Install and activate the plugin, then navigate to Tools > Regenerate Thumbnails and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Check Template Files: If you’ve customized your template files, verify that the the_post_thumbnail () function is correctly implemented.

6: Add Custom Code to Fix Featured Image Issues

If none of the above solutions work, custom coding might be necessary to resolve featured image issues. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Edit Theme’s Functions.php File: Add this code snippet to ensure featured images are enabled for all post types:

• add_theme_support(‘post-thumbnails’);

2. Enable Featured Images for Custom Post Types: For custom post types, use:

• add_theme_support (‘post-thumbnails’, array (‘post’, ‘custom_post_type’));

3. Force Display of Featured Images: If featured images are missing on specific templates, add this to your template files:

• if ( has_post_thumbnail () ) {
•     the_post_thumbnail ();}

4. Debug PHP Errors: Use error logs to identify issues and resolve them. Access your server’s error log file or enable debugging in WordPress.

Custom coding allows for precise control over how featured images behave on your WordPress site.

What if the Featured Image Doesn’t Look Right:

You’ve finished writing the content for your article and learned how to upload a featured image. Post-review and publication are the only tasks left to complete.

Regretfully, you find that the highlighted photo doesn’t appear to be as good as you had thought.

Perhaps you come across one of the following:

• The displayed photo is either too big or too small.
• It appears distorted or stretched out.
• The thumbnail pictures aren’t displaying at the correct dimensions.

Thankfully, the platform comes with a ton of photo-editing capabilities by default, so you can make sure the featured image looks great. 

It’s a good idea to know what kinds of pictures are suitable for featured images as well, as the original photographs can be the source of the problems in the first place.

Best Practices for Featured Images

Feature images play a vital role in grabbing attention and setting the tone for your content. To ensure their effectiveness, choose high-quality visuals that are relevant to the topic, optimized for SEO, and aligned with your branding. 

Ensure responsiveness for various devices and create engaging thumbnails for social media. Leverage A/B testing and analytics to understand what resonates best. 

Always respect copyright laws and consider using user-generated content to add authenticity and build community trust.

1: Choose High-Quality Images 

The quality of a feature image can significantly impact your audience’s first impression. Use high-resolution images that are clear, vibrant, and free from pixelation. Images should be visually appealing and professionally captured or designed to convey credibility. 

Avoid stock photos that look overly generic or cliché. Instead, opt for visuals that feel unique and resonate with your content’s purpose. 

Tools like Photoshop, Canva, or Lightroom can help refine your images for a polished look. Always test your image’s appearance on various screens to ensure its quality remains consistent across devices.

2: Ensure Relevance to the Content 

Your feature image should align with the content it represents. A relevant image enhances understanding, sets expectations, and draws the audience in. For example, if your article is about digital marketing trends, an image of social media icons or analytics charts would be more fitting than a generic landscape photo. 

The image should complement the headline and reinforce the message you’re conveying. Avoid misleading visuals, as they can lead to frustration and loss of trust. A well-matched image not only improves user experience but also increases engagement and sharing.

3: Optimize for SEO 

Feature images contribute to SEO when optimized effectively. Use descriptive file names and include relevant keywords to make them discoverable by search engines. 

Add alt text to describe the Image for Accessibility and SEO purposes. Compress images to reduce file size without compromising quality, ensuring faster page loading times. Tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can assist with this. 

Additionally, choose appropriate image dimensions that suit your website layout. Ensure that your image format (JPEG, PNG, or WebP) is supported and well-suited for web use. Optimized images not only improve rankings but also enhance user satisfaction.

4: Consistent Style and Branding 

Maintaining a consistent style for feature images reinforces brand identity and creates a cohesive visual experience for your audience. Use a unified color palette, typography, and design elements that align with your brand guidelines. 

Whether your style is minimalist, vibrant, or illustrative, ensure it’s recognizable across platforms. Templates in tools like Canva or Adobe Express can help maintain consistency. Consistency extends to image filters, borders, and placement of logos or watermarks. 

A strong, recognizable visual style builds trust and helps your audience identify your content instantly, fostering brand loyalty.

5: Responsive Design 

Feature images should look great on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Use responsive design practices to ensure your images scale and adjust seamlessly. Test your images on various screen sizes to avoid cropping or distortion. 

Tools like CSS media queries can help optimize image display for different devices. Use the appropriate aspect ratio and resolution for each platform; for instance, a 16:9 ratio works well for widescreens, while 4:3 suits mobile. 

Responsive images enhance user experience, making your content more accessible and visually appealing regardless of the device used.

6: Engaging Thumbnails for Social Media 

Thumbnails play a crucial role in driving clicks and engagement on social media. Create visually striking thumbnails that feature bold colors, clear typography, and compelling visuals. 

Incorporate elements like text overlays or brand logos to make them instantly recognizable. Ensure thumbnails are optimized for platform-specific dimensions, such as 1200×628 pixels for Facebook or 1080×1080 pixels for Instagram. 

Use attention-grabbing imagery that evokes curiosity without being misleading. A well-crafted thumbnail can significantly increase shares and interactions, making your content stand out in crowded social feeds.

7: A/B Testing and Analytics 

A/B testing allows you to determine which feature images perform best. Create multiple versions of an image, varying elements such as colors, layouts, or text overlays. Test these versions with your audience and analyze metrics like click-through rates (CTR) and engagement. 

Use tools like Google Analytics or social media insights to gather data. Iteratively refine your images based on these results to improve performance. 

Testing helps you understand audience preferences and optimize visual strategies, ensuring your images resonate effectively with your target demographic.

Related Article: How to Increase Your Google Ads Quality Score

8: Legal Considerations 

Always ensure legal compliance when using feature images. Avoid copyright infringement by sourcing images from reputable stock libraries like Unsplash, Shutterstock, or Adobe Stock, or use Creative Commons-licensed content with proper attribution. 

Verify that your image licenses cover commercial use if needed. If you hire photographers or designers, establish clear agreements regarding ownership and usage rights. 

Watermark your original images to protect intellectual property. Adhering to legal guidelines not only safeguards you from potential lawsuits but also demonstrates professionalism and ethical responsibility.

9: User-Generated Content 

Incorporating user-generated content (UGC) as feature images can boost authenticity and audience engagement. 

Encourage your audience to share relevant photos, reviews, or stories that align with your content. Seek permission before using their submissions, and credit them appropriately to foster goodwill. UGC adds a personal touch and builds community trust. 

Platforms like Instagram or Twitter are excellent sources for finding UGC. Integrating audience contributions into your visual strategy not only saves resources but also strengthens relationships with your followers, making your content more relatable and credible. 

Conclusion 

Making a stunning website with featured photographs that don’t display can be very unpleasant and even harmful to your business. Hopefully, this guide will assist you in fixing the common WordPress feature picture not showing problem. 

Just make sure your featured photographs are uploaded and set up properly before on to more complicated solutions.

You learned several helpful tips along the way to improve your image editing and workflow. For more tips and tricks, see our in-depth guide to WordPress optimization. If you want to speed up the loading of your WordPress website, read this.

As soon as you have the highlights ready, start sharing! Try CapraHost Today! Enjoy a worry-free web hosting experience, knowing your site is in trusted hands.

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

1: Why is my WordPress featured image not appearing on my site?

The most common reason for a featured image not appearing is that it hasn’t been set properly in the post editor. Ensure you’ve uploaded an image and assigned it as the featured image under the “Featured Image” section in the WordPress editor. Also, some themes may not display featured images by default or may have specific requirements for image dimensions. Check your theme settings or consult its documentation to confirm how featured images are handled.

2: Could my WordPress theme be causing the featured image issue?

Yes, your WordPress theme could be the issue. Some themes do not support featured images or require additional configuration to display them. To check if your theme supports featured images, go to Appearance > Theme Editor and review the functions.php file for the line add_theme_support (‘post-thumbnails’); If it’s missing, add this line to enable featured images. Alternatively, consider switching to a different theme that fully supports this feature.

3: How can I troubleshoot a featured image not appearing on social media?

If your featured image doesn’t show up when sharing posts on social media, the issue might be related to Open Graph meta tags, which tell platforms like Facebook and Twitter what image to display. Use a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to manage Open Graph tags and ensure the correct image is selected. Also, use tools like Facebook’s Sharing Debugger to clear cached versions of your page and preview how your post will look.

4: Could a plugin conflict cause the featured image problem?

Yes, plugin conflicts are a common cause. A plugin that modifies image settings or post display features might interfere with the featured image functionality. Deactivate your plugins one by one and test the issue after each deactivation to identify the conflicting plugin. Once found, you can either disable it permanently or contact the plugin developer for support.

5: Does the image file size or format matter for featured images?

Yes, using an unsupported file format or excessively large image file can cause issues. WordPress supports common formats like JPEG, PNG, and GIF, so ensure your image is in one of these formats. Moreover, very large images may fail to upload or display due to server limitations. Optimize your images using tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel to reduce their size without compromising quality.

6: Why does my featured image appear blurry or cropped incorrectly?

Blurry or cropped featured images typically result from improper image dimensions or aspect ratio settings. Themes often require specific dimensions for featured images, so check your theme documentation for guidelines. Resize your images to match these dimensions using an image editor or WordPress plugins like Regenerate Thumbnails, which automatically adjusts your images to fit your theme requirements.

7: Can caching affect the appearance of featured images?

Yes, caching can prevent updated images from appearing immediately. If you’ve recently uploaded or updated a featured image, but the old image or a blank placeholder still shows, clear your website’s cache using your caching plugin or hosting control panel. Moreover, clear your browser cache to ensure you’re viewing the latest version of the page.

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