Why images may not appear in the media library

Introduction

If images in your WordPress articles are not appearing in the media library, the issue is often caused by content that was copied from another site. In many cases, the images are still linked to the original site’s media library instead of being uploaded to your own WordPress site. This guide explains how to identify the issue and upload the images into your Novanews media library.

Issue description

This issue usually happens when posts are distributed or imported from another website and the image references remain external. As a result, the images may display in the article, but they do not appear in the WordPress media library on your site.

Signs

• Images show in the article, but not in Media Library.
• Image URLs point to another website.
• Editing the post does not show the image as a local upload.
• You cannot reuse the image from the WordPress media picker.

Basic troubleshooting steps

Use this checklist to confirm the cause before making changes.

• Check whether the image URL belongs to your own site or an external site.
• Open the post in the editor and confirm how the image was added.
• Verify whether the image exists in Media Library by filename.
• Confirm whether the content was copied, imported, or syndicated from another source.

Advanced troubleshooting steps

Step 1: Download the image from the source post

Open the distributed post and locate the missing image. Save the image file to your computer, or use the original source file if you have access to it.

Step 2: Upload the image to the Novanews media library

In WordPress, go to Media and upload the image file into your Novanews library. Once uploaded, the image will be available for reuse across your site.

Step 3: Replace the external image in the article

Edit the article and replace the old image reference with the newly uploaded media item. Save or update the post.

Step 4: Confirm the image now appears in Media Library

Return to the media library and confirm the image is listed. If needed, refresh the page or search by filename.

Video tutorial

For a visual walkthrough, watch the video tutorial here: [Link to video tutorial]

Contact support

If you still cannot get the image to appear in the media library, contact your WordPress support team or site administrator for help with the import or upload process.

Additional information

If this issue affects multiple posts, you may need to repeat the upload and replacement process for each image that was copied from another site. Keeping images in your own media library helps with performance, consistency, and long-term site management.

Disclaimer

The steps in this guide are provided as general troubleshooting guidance. Depending on your WordPress setup, theme, plugins, or import method, the exact process may differ. If you are unsure, seek assistance from a qualified WordPress professional.