13 Reasons Why You Are Facing The WordPress Featured Image Not Showing Error
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Are you frustrated because you are facing the WordPress featured image not showing error on your site? Featured images are crucial for grabbing attention and drawing readers to your content. Without them, your posts might look incomplete. Luckily, there are simple ways to fix this issue and get your site back in shape.
In this guide, we’ll walk through easy steps to troubleshoot and solve the missing featured image problem. From ensuring your theme is set up correctly to checking plugin settings, you’ll learn how to address each potential cause. Plus, we’ll share tips on how to prevent this problem from popping up again. Let’s dive in and make sure your WordPress site looks its best!
TL;DR: WordPress featured image not showing? Check if your theme supports it and if your settings are correct. Address common problems like plugin conflicts, and ensure that images can be seen in posts. Always remember to update your site and create a backup before making any changes to keep your data safe.
1. Verify that the featured image exists
At times, images might not appear because they are missing or their links are broken. First, visit your media library to see if the image exists there.

Then, make sure the URL for the featured image is accurate. If the image is not there or the link is broken, you may need to upload the image again. Doing this can help the image show up properly and solve the issue of the WordPress featured image not showing.
2. Check theme support for featured images
To solve the issue of a WordPress featured image not showing, check if your theme supports it. Open the functions.php file in your theme and search for this line:
add_theme_support('post-thumbnails');

If you don’t find it, you can add it yourself. This simple line of code tells WordPress that your theme can use featured images. This makes them available when you make posts or pages.
3. Check file permissions
File permissions determine who can view or change a file on your server. If these are incorrect, your images might not appear, causing the WordPress featured image not showing error.
Usually, directories should have permissions set to 755, and files should be 644.

You can change these settings using your hosting control panel or an FTP client. Ensure no plugin or custom code is blocking featured images. Also, check content visibility settings to confirm that images are set to show.
4. Clear all WordPress caches
Cached data might show an old version of your site, hiding changes like new images. Clear your browser cache and any caching plugins you use.

Doing this ensures your site loads the latest files and can resolve the WordPress featured image not showing issue.
5. Check for plugin and theme conflicts
Plugins conflicts might interfere with your site’s function. Temporarily disable them to see if they cause the WordPress featured image not showing error.

If the image appears, turn the plugins back on one by one to find the problematic one.
Try switching to a default WordPress theme to see if it resolves the problem. Using a theme like Twenty Twenty-Two helps determine if the theme is the issue. If changing the theme fixes it, contact the theme developer for help or updates.
6. Regenerate thumbnails
If image sizes are not set correctly, your featured image might not display well. Use a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails to fix this. It adjusts all images to the right sizes, ensuring they show properly on your site.

7. Check for database corruption
A corrupted database might cause display issues like the WordPress featured image not showing. Repair your database using tools from your web host or within the WordPress dashboard to resolve such problems.

8. Keep your site updated
Old software can cause issues such as the WordPress featured image not showing error. Regularly update WordPress, your themes, and all plugins for better security and compatibility. Use a staging site to test updates before applying them to avoid new issues.

9. Fix the HTTP error when uploading featured images
You might face an HTTP error when uploading images. To fix it, increase the PHP memory limit by editing the wp-config.php file and adding:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

If necessary, switch the image editor to gd by adding:
define('IMAGE_EDITOR', 'gd');
Also, check the image size and browser you’re using. Correcting image dimensions and trying a different browser might solve the WordPress featured image not showing issue.
10. Disable lazy loading
Lazy loading delays image loads until needed. If it causes issues like the WordPress featured image not showing error, remove the loading="lazy"
attribute from your theme’s functions.php file. If you use a plugin for lazy loading, adjust the settings to exclude featured images.

11. Configure WordPress dashboard settings to show featured images
Sometimes, dashboard settings may have featured images turned off, leading to WordPress featured image not showing errors. Go to Screen Options in the post editor and ensure Featured Image is selected.

You can also use a plugin like Membership & User Role Editor to let all roles manage featured images.
12. Inspect console for errors
JavaScript errors might stop images from showing, leading to WordPress featured image not showing errors. Use the browser’s developer tools to check for these errors.

Console errors often provide clues about what’s wrong and how to fix it. This step is technical, so proceed carefully.
13. Fix issues with the featured image not showing on blog post gallery pages
If you’re a WordPress developer, check your template files, like index.php or archive.php, to make sure no code prevents image display. Use WordPress functions like the_post_thumbnail() for proper image loading. Double-check that theme settings allow images in galleries.
Preventing the WordPress featured image not showing error in the future
To avoid future occurrences of the WordPress featured image not showing error, follow these tips:
Final thoughts
The WordPress featured image not showing issue can be a headache, but it is usually fixable with some tweaks. Ensure your theme supports images and maintain regular updates. Tuning settings, especially for lazy loading and gallery display, can also help.
Before you make changes, always backup your site. A backup keeps your work safe if things go awry. We recommend using BlogVault to simplify this process. It takes automatic backups so that you can focus on running your site. Remember, backups are an essential practice to keep your WordPress site secure and working smoothly.
FAQs
Why is my featured image not showing in WordPress?
There are several reasons why your featured image might not appear in WordPress. First, check if the image is set correctly as a featured image in the post editor. There may be theme-related issues, as some themes handle featured images differently or might not support them. Plugin conflicts can also block the image, especially if you have recently installed or updated a plugin. Ensure that WordPress, your theme, and plugins are all current. Clear your cache and verify your site’s permissions to confirm that images are accessible. If the problem persists, try switching to a default theme to check if that solves the issue.
How do I activate featured image in WordPress?
To activate a featured image in WordPress, access your WordPress dashboard and open the post or page where you wish to add the image. In the post editor, find the Featured Image section, which is usually on the right side. If it is not visible, click on Screen Options at the top of the page and check the Featured Image box to make it appear. Click Set Featured Image, then either select an image from your media library or upload a new one. Click Set Featured Image again to confirm your selection. Don’t forget to save or update your post to keep the changes.
Why is my WordPress theme not showing images?
There could be multiple reasons your WordPress theme isn’t displaying images. There might be an issue with the theme settings or a recent update could have disrupted image display. Conflicts with plugins, especially those affecting image loading, can also cause problems. Check your theme’s image size settings to make sure they fit your needs. Ensure that images are uploaded correctly and are present in the media library. Clearing your cache and checking file permissions on your server can also help. If the issue continues, switch to a default theme to see if images show up, which may point to a problem with your current theme.
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