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In WordPress, open Media → Library, select the image, and choose Copy URL to clipboard. The copied address is the direct URL to the image file.
Copy an image URL from the Media Library
- Sign in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Media → Library.
- Search or filter for the image you need.
- In grid view, click the image thumbnail to open Attachment Details.
- Find File URL and select Copy URL to clipboard.
- Paste the address wherever you need the image-file link.
In list view, use the media row’s Copy URL to clipboard action. WordPress copies the image’s absolute URL.
Get the URL immediately after uploading
For a new image, open Media → Add New or upload the file from a post or page editor. After the upload finishes, use the displayed Copy URL to clipboard control. The image is then available in the Media Library like any other uploaded media.
File URL versus attachment-page permalink
WordPress provides two different addresses on an image’s Edit Media screen. Choose the one that matches the destination you want:
#1 Best Overall
| WordPress field or setting | Destination | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| File URL or the editor’s Media File | The image file itself, such as the full-size JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP | You need a direct link that opens the image. |
| Permalink or the editor’s Attachment Page | A WordPress page dedicated to that attachment | You want visitors to open a page on your site rather than the raw file. |
| Custom URL | Another destination that you specify | The image in post content should send visitors to a particular page or resource. |
| None | No click-through link on the inserted image | The image should remain unlinked in the content. |
The link setting chosen when inserting an image controls what happens when a visitor clicks that image in a post or page. It does not replace the Media Library’s File URL or its copy action.
Retrieve an image URL with the REST API
For automated or developer workflows, request the media item through the WordPress REST API and read its source_url field. WordPress documents source_url as the URL of the original attachment file. For a one-off lookup, the dashboard’s copy control is simpler.
Rank #2
When the image is hosted on another site
The Block Editor can insert an image directly from a URL. That image depends on the other site continuing to host and share the file. If the original is moved, deleted, or access is restricted, it may stop displaying. Use the editor’s upload-to-Media-Library option when you need a copy stored on your own WordPress site.
Quick Recap
If you cannot find the image
- Check that you are viewing the correct site and WordPress dashboard.
- Search the Media Library by filename or filter by media type.
- Remember that images uploaded from a post or page editor also appear in the Media Library.
- Use File URL, not Permalink, when another service or person specifically asks for the image-file address.
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