When migrating a WordPress website from one server to another, or from a local development environment to a live server, encountering issues with images not showing up can be frustrating and disruptive. This problem typically stems from incorrect file paths in the database or file permissions issues. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various potential causes and solutions to help you resolve the issue of missing images after a WordPress migration.
Understanding the Issue
Before delving into the solutions, it’s crucial to understand why images might not display after a migration:
- Incorrect URLs or File Paths: WordPress stores image URLs and file paths in its database. When migrating, if these URLs are not updated to reflect the new domain or directory structure, the images won’t load correctly.
- File Permissions: Sometimes, incorrect file permissions on the server can prevent images from being accessed by the web server software, resulting in broken image links.
- Caching Issues: Browser cache or server-side caching plugins can sometimes display outdated content, including images.
- Plugin or Theme Issues: Incompatibility issues between plugins or themes and the new server environment can also lead to image display problems.
Step-by-Step Solutions
Let’s walk through the solutions to troubleshoot and fix the issue of missing images after a WordPress migration:
1. Update URLs in the Database
After migrating WordPress to a new domain or directory, it’s crucial to update all instances of the old URL to the new one in the database. This can be done using SQL queries or by using plugins like “Better Search Replace” or “Velvet Blues Update URLs”.
- Using a Plugin: Install and activate a plugin like “Better Search Replace”. Navigate to Tools > Better Search Replace, enter the old and new URLs, select tables (usually all tables except for some specific cases), and perform a dry run first to ensure correctness. Once verified, perform the actual search and replace.
- Manual SQL Query: If you’re comfortable with MySQL, you can run SQL queries directly on your database to update URLs:
Replace oldurl.com and newurl.com with your actual old and new domain URLs.
2. Check File Permissions
Ensure that file permissions on the server are correctly set to allow WordPress to access and serve images:
- Directories should typically have permissions set to
755. - Files should generally have permissions set to
644. - Use SSH or FTP to verify and adjust permissions if necessary.
3. Clear Caches
Clear browser cache and any server-side caching mechanisms or plugins (like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache). Sometimes, cached content can prevent new images from displaying.
4. Verify Image URLs
Inspect the HTML source code of your website to ensure that the image URLs are correctly pointing to the new location. Look for instances where URLs might still reference the old domain or directory structure.
5. Disable Plugins and Themes
Temporarily disable all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One). If images display correctly after doing this, then the issue might be with a specific plugin or theme. Reactivate each plugin/theme one-by-one to identify the culprit.
6. Regenerate Thumbnails
If only thumbnails are missing or not displaying correctly, you might need to regenerate them using a plugin like “Regenerate Thumbnails”. This plugin helps recreate image sizes that WordPress uses.
7. Check .htaccess File
Ensure that your .htaccess file is correctly configured, especially if you’re using permalinks or custom rewrite rules. Incorrect configurations can sometimes interfere with how images are accessed.
8. Verify CDN or External Service Settings
If you use a content delivery network (CDN) or any external service for image hosting, ensure that the settings are correctly configured to reflect the new domain or directory structure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the problem of missing images after a WordPress migration can be resolved by systematically addressing potential causes such as incorrect URLs in the database, file permissions, caching issues, plugin or theme conflicts, and configuration errors. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to identify and fix the issue effectively, ensuring that your WordPress site displays images correctly on the new server or domain. Learn More