One day, while working on your WP site, you suddenly notice blank images on the front end. This may give you a mini shock, but do not worry you can fix this. Missing images from the media library is quite common because user most often do not update WordPress or PHP.
Today, let's talk about how you can fix WP images that disappeared from the media library. Let's talk.
1. Update WordPress
Have you updated your WordPress? If not, then it can be the reason for WordPress images to disappear from the media library. An outdated WordPress version causes compatibility problems.
Check if a new update is available. Go to your WordPress dashboard. Then click on “Updates” and install the latest version. This can help resolve bugs and let you access the image again.
2. Restore Backup
Do you have a backup of your website? Then, restoring it can fix the problem.
A backup is a saved version of your site. So this also includes your media files. When the images are missing, go to your hosting provider or a backup plugin. Next, restore the website to a time when the images were still visible.
Also, remember that restoring a backup will replace the current version of your site. So, it’s important to back up your current site before restoring it again.
3. Database Repair
A broken database? It can cause images to disappear. The database stores your site’s data and media files. If the database is damaged, your media library may not display.
You can repair the database by using a plugin. Or, go to phpMyAdmin through your hosting account. There, select your database and click “Repair.” This should fix any database-related issues.
4. Check File Permissions
Many times, WordPress may not show images if file permissions are incorrect. If this is the scenario, check this using an FTP client or through your hosting file manager. The permissions for folders should be set to 755, and files should be set to 644. Adjust these, and reload the media library to see if the images reappear.
5. Clear Browser Cache
Sometimes, your browser stores old versions of a website. This is known as caching. It can display your site incorrectly. You may see missing images, too. So the solution is clearing your browser cache often.
To do this, go to your browser’s settings. Find the option to clear browsing data or cache. Once cleared, reload the media library and see if the images are back.
6. Disable Plugins and Themes
A conflict with plugins or themes can make images disappear. To check if this is the problem, first deactivate all your plugins temporarily. You can do this in the WordPress dashboard. Go to the,
Plugins > Installed Plugins
Then, switch to a default theme. If the images return, this means one of your plugins or themes is causing the issue. Reactivate them one by one to find the conflict.
7. Regenerate Thumbnails
WordPress creates different image sizes when you upload a file. If something goes wrong thumbnails may not display.
To fix this, you can regenerate the thumbnails. Use a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails. After installing the plugin, you can recreate all missing image sizes. This often should fix the issue of images not showing up.
8. Check the .htaccess File
The .htaccess file controls how WordPress interacts with the server. You may know this, if it’s misconfigured, images might not appear.
To figure this out, access your site’s files through FTP or your hosting file manager. Look for the .htaccess file. This should be in the root folder of your site. Rename it temporarily and refresh the media library. If the images show up, the problem is with the .htaccess file.
Or generate a new one by going to,
Settings > Permalinks and clicking “Save Changes.”
9. Fix Image URLs
Broken or incorrect image URLs may be the reason for you WordPress images to disappear. This can happen if you recently moved your site. Even changed its domain.
It’s better you use a plugin. By this you can find and replace old image URLs with the correct ones. After fixing the URLs, check the images should reappear.
10. Check Upload Folder Settings
The WordPress media library relies on a specific folder to store images. If the path to this folder is incorrect, your images won’t appear.
Go to,
Settings > Media
In your WordPress dashboard. Fix the upload path to wp-content/uploads. If the path is wrong, correct it and save the changes. Then, recheck your media library.
Look for the “Uploading Files” section (this may not be visible in newer versions of WordPress unless explicitly defined in the wp-config.php file).
If visible, the “Store uploads in this folder” setting defines the upload directory path. By default, it should be set to wp-content/uploads.
11. Switch to a Default Theme
Sometimes, custom themes can conflict with the media library. The solution is to switch to a default WordPress theme. Go to,
Appearance > Theme
Activate the default theme. If your images reappear, then the problem was likely with your previous theme. You may need to update or replace it.
12. Check the CDN settings
Images can disappear if you use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) and there are incorrect settings. A CDN helps speed up your site by storing copies of files like images. Check your CDN settings so it is properly connected to your website. You may need to clear the CDN cache. Or temporarily disable the CDN.
13. Check the PHP version
Have you checked the PHP version? There may be some problems, such as the outdated version of PHP. This is another reason for disappearing images from media libraries.
Now check your PHP version in your hosting control panel. WordPress recommends using PHP 7.4 or higher. Contact your hosting provider to upgrade the PHP version if you're using an older version. This can often fix problems with missing images.
Tips to Follow after your WordPress media library starts working again
Following any of the above 13 ways, you surely can get back you missing images. Here are some more tips, following which you will never fall in the same situation again,
Regular Backups: Back up your site regularly to avoid future issues.
Update Plugins and Themes: Keep all plugins, themes, and WordPress itself up to date.
Optimize Images: Use an image optimization plugin. This will reduce file sizes and improve site speed.
Check for Conflicts: Test new plugins or themes on a staging site before using them on your live site.
Monitor File Permissions: Often check file permissions are correctly set for security.
Conclusion
When you find out missing images from media library of your WP, clear your browser cache to refresh the display of images, or look for errors in the .htaccess file and fix them. Also, check the update date of your WP, and plugins. However, we have already about 13 ways. Try these and you will surely find out the solution.
