Table of contents
Quick fix1. Make sure it’s set up correctly2. Check your dashboard settings3. Check PHP memory limits4. Check for theme/plugin conflicts5. Try disabling lazy loadingWhy featured images are importantGetting startedAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → Images → Quick Fix

WordPress featured image not showing? Get the quick fix

Running into issues with WordPress featured images not showing can be frustrating—especially when they’re key to your site’s layout or design. Whether images are missing from blog listings, not displaying on individual posts, or failing to load entirely, this common error can have a variety of causes. 

Let’s walk through the most likely reasons and show you how to fix them quickly.

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Quick fix

If your WordPress featured image is not showing, start by checking your theme settings and ensure that the featured image option is enabled. Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings, then Permalinks, and click ‘Save Changes’ to refresh the settings. 

If the problem persists, inspect your image files to confirm they are properly uploaded and have the correct permissions. You may also want to clear your browser cache or check for any plugin conflicts that could be causing the issue. 

1. Make sure it’s set up correctly

To resolve the ‘error: WordPress featured image not showing’ issue, it’s vital to ensure that your featured image is set up correctly. 

  1. Open your post or page: Start by navigating to the WordPress dashboard. From there, select the post or page where you want to set the featured image. Click on the title of the post to edit it.
  2. Locate the featured image section: On the right side of the editor, you will find the ‘Featured Image’ panel. If you don’t see it, ensure that it is enabled in the ‘Screen Options’ at the top of the page.
  3. Set the featured image: Click on the ‘Set featured image’ link within the panel. This action will open the WordPress media library. You can either select an existing image or upload a new one from your computer. Make sure the image you choose is of high quality and appropriately sized for your theme.
  4. Publish or update: Once you have selected the image, click the ‘Set featured image’ button. Don’t forget to save your changes by clicking ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ at the top right of the page.
  5. Clear cache: If your featured image still doesn’t appear after following these steps, consider clearing your site’s cache and your browser’s cache. Sometimes, cached data may prevent the latest changes from displaying.

2. Check your dashboard settings

To access your dashboard settings, log in to your WordPress admin panel, which is typically found at yourdomain.com/wp-admin. Once logged in, navigate to the Settings menu located on the left-hand side of the dashboard.

Within the Settings menu, there are a few areas you should inspect. 

  • Media settings. Here, you can specify the default sizes for images. Ensure that the settings are configured correctly, particularly the dimensions for the featured images, as this can impact their display on your site. If the settings are not aligned with the image sizes you are uploading, it may prevent the featured images from appearing as intended.
  • Reading settings. Make sure that your homepage is set up correctly and that it displays your latest posts or a static page as desired. If your posts are not set to display featured images, it might be worth toggling these settings to see if it resolves the issue.
  • Settings related to your active theme, as some themes have custom settings for displaying featured images. Ensure that your theme supports featured images and that you have enabled this feature in the theme settings.

3. Check PHP memory limits

If the featured image on your WordPress site isn’t appearing, a possible cause might be linked to your PHP memory limits. WordPress depends on PHP for its operations, and insufficient memory allocation can hinder various functions, including the display of featured images. When memory limits are too low, it can result in incomplete image processing, leading to images not loading properly. 

This issue is especially prevalent when using themes or plugins that demand more resources than what your server is currently providing.

To verify your PHP memory limits, create a straightforward PHP file in the root directory of your WordPress installation. Open your preferred text editor and add the following code:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Save this file as phpinfo.php and upload it to your WordPress directory via FTP. After uploading, visit http://yourdomain.com/phpinfo.php in your browser. This will show a page containing detailed information about your PHP settings. Locate the section labeled memory_limit; this indicates the maximum memory that PHP can use. If this value is set low (for instance, 64M or lower), you may need to raise it.

To increase the memory limit, you can edit your wp-config.php file by including the line define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’); or modify it through your server’s PHP settings if you have the necessary access. After implementing these changes, refresh your site and see if the featured image is now visible.

4. Check for theme/plugin conflicts

Another common reason why your WordPress featured image may not be displaying is due to conflicts between your theme and plugins. WordPress themes and plugins often rely on similar functionalities to display images, and when these elements clash, it can prevent your featured image from appearing correctly. 

This is especially true if you’ve recently updated a plugin or your theme, as newer versions may introduce changes that are incompatible with existing elements.

  • To check for conflicts, start by switching to a default WordPress theme, such as Twenty Twenty-One. You can do this by navigating to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard. Activate the default theme and check if your featured image appears. If it does, the issue likely resides with your original theme.
  • If the theme change doesn’t resolve the issue, the next step is to deactivate your plugins. Head to Plugins > Installed Plugins, and deactivate all plugins at once. After deactivation, check if the featured image shows up. If it does, reactivate the plugins one by one, checking the featured image after each activation. This process will help you identify which specific plugin is causing the conflict.

5. Try disabling lazy loading

If your WordPress featured image is not showing, one potential culprit could be lazy loading, a feature designed to improve page load times by only loading images as they come into the viewport. 

While this can enhance performance, it may inadvertently interfere with how featured images are displayed, especially if they are not loaded correctly or are missing the necessary attributes for visibility.

To check if lazy loading is the issue:

  1. Start by navigating to your WordPress dashboard. 
  2. Go to the settings of your caching or performance plugin, as many of them offer lazy loading features. 
  3. Temporarily disable the lazy loading option and clear your site’s cache to ensure all changes are applied. 
  4. Once you’ve made these adjustments, refresh your website and check if the featured image appears correctly.

If the image is now visible, you’ve identified the problem. You can choose to leave lazy loading disabled or explore alternative methods that allow you to maintain both image performance and visibility. 

Why featured images are important

Featured images play a crucial role in enhancing the visual appeal and engagement of a WordPress site. They serve as the first impression for visitors and can significantly impact user experience. 

  • Improved aesthetic appeal: Featured images add a professional touch to your posts and pages, helping to establish your brand’s identity. A well-chosen image can captivate visitors and encourage them to explore your content further.
  • Enhanced social sharing: When your content is shared on social media, the featured image often accompanies the post. An eye-catching image can increase click-through rates and drive more traffic to your website, amplifying your reach.
  • Better SEO performance: Featured images can contribute positively to your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Optimizing these images with relevant alt text can improve your site’s visibility in search results, making it easier for potential visitors to discover your content.
  • Increased engagement: Posts with featured images tend to receive more attention and engagement from readers. Visual content is processed faster by the brain, making it more likely that visitors will remember your message and share it with others.
  • Context and relevance: A featured image can provide context to your content, giving readers a visual cue about what to expect. It can set the tone for your article, whether it’s informative, entertaining, or promotional.

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