Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsUse the Image block. In the WordPress block editor, place the cursor where the picture should appear, insert an Image block, then upload a file, choose an image from the Media Library, or enter an image URL. You can also drag a file into the editor or paste an image from another document. The steps below cover each route, accessibility text, sizing, cropping, featured images, galleries, and the problems that commonly make images disappear or look wrong.
How do I add an image to WordPress?
- Open the page or post in the WordPress block editor.
- Click where the image should appear.
- Click the + block inserter, search for Image, and select the Image block. You can also type
/imagein an empty paragraph and press Enter. - Choose Upload, Media Library, or Insert from URL.
- Adjust the image details and display settings, then save or update the page.
The Image block is intended for one picture. If you need several pictures arranged together, use a Gallery block instead.
How do I upload a photo from my computer?
Upload through the Image block
Choose Upload after inserting the Image block. Select the file from your computer and WordPress places it in the page and adds it to the site’s Media Library. That means you can manage the same file later from Media or reuse it in another post.
Drag and drop
For a faster workflow, drag an image file onto a blank area of the editor or into an empty Paragraph block. WordPress converts the drop into an image. Check the resulting block before publishing so that the correct file, alternative text, and alignment are present.
Recommended Free Tools
Copy and paste
You can copy an image from another document and paste it into the editor. If the toolbar offers Upload to Media Library, use that option when you want the site to keep its own copy. A pasted image that remains dependent on another application or remote source is less reliable for long-term use.
How do I add an image from the Media Library?
Insert an Image block and select Media Library. Search or browse the files already stored on your site, select one, and click the button to insert it. This is the best route when an image has already been uploaded because it avoids creating another copy and keeps the page connected to the existing media record.
You can also open the block inserter’s Media tab. Depending on your theme and configuration, it may show Media Library items and an Openverse option. Openverse is not guaranteed to appear on every WordPress setup.
How do I add an image using a URL?
- Insert an Image block.
- Choose Insert from URL.
- Paste the direct address of the image file, not merely the page that displays it.
- Confirm the insertion and complete the image details.
A URL is convenient, but it leaves your page dependent on another site. The owner may block embedding, move or delete the file, or stop sharing it; the image can then disappear from your page. If the toolbar lets you upload a copy to the Media Library, do so when you have permission to use the image. A publicly reachable image is not automatically free to reuse.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Write useful alternative text
Alternative text describes the image’s meaningful content or purpose for people who cannot see it and for situations in which the image does not load. Write what matters in the context of the page rather than listing keywords or repeating the surrounding sentence. For example, an image used to identify a product feature should explain that feature; an image that is only decoration does not need a description.
Image-specific versus Media Library text
Alternative text entered in the block settings applies to that image on that particular page or post. Text entered in the Media Library becomes the default when the file is inserted elsewhere. Review the wording in both places if the same image serves different purposes on different pages.
Mark decoration as decorative
If the picture adds no information or functionality, mark it as decorative when that option is available. Assistive technology can then ignore it instead of announcing meaningless content.
Add a caption, crop, or featured image
Caption
Use the caption control in the Image block toolbar to show a line of text below the picture. Captions are useful for attribution, dates, explanations, or information that readers should see even when the image itself is unavailable.
Crop and rotate
Select Crop to open the Media Editor. You can crop, rotate, flip, or choose an aspect ratio. WordPress saves the edited version as a new file, preserving the original in the Media Library.
Featured image
Open the Image block’s More options menu and choose Set as featured image when the theme supports that workflow. A featured image is separate from an image placed in the body: themes may use it in archives, headers, social previews, or other templates.
Control image size and layout
Width and height
The displayed dimensions are not the same as the source file’s dimensions. Use the width control to change how large the image appears and normally leave height on Auto so the proportions follow the width. A fixed height can be appropriate for a carefully designed layout, but it is harder to keep responsive and can cut off content on different screens.
Aspect ratio and focal point
An aspect-ratio setting can change the shape of the displayed area. A focal-point control helps keep the important part of a cropped image visible. Check the result at different viewport widths before publishing.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Cover versus Contain
- Cover fills the selected area, but may crop the edges.
- Contain keeps the entire image visible, but may leave empty space around it.
Resolution choices
WordPress may offer Full Size, Large, Medium, and Thumbnail choices. The available sizes depend on the original image, theme support, and site configuration, so do not assume every installation shows the same list. Choose a size that fits the design rather than forcing a large source into a small display area.
Alignment and responsive checking
Use the block’s alignment controls to place the image in the content column or to widen it where the theme permits. Preview the page on a narrow screen as well as a desktop screen. Aggressive cropping, fixed heights, or a width that exceeds the content area can make an image unusable on mobile.
Use a Gallery block for multiple images
For a set of pictures, insert a Gallery block and use the media uploader to select existing files or add new ones. A gallery gives WordPress a group-oriented layout instead of treating each picture as an unrelated Image block. Add meaningful alternative text to each informative image and captions where readers need context.
Which insertion method should you choose?
| Route | Best when | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Upload from device | The file is on your computer and should belong to the site | It is added to the Media Library through the page or post workflow |
| Media Library | The image is already stored on the site | Reuses the existing file and media record |
| Insert from URL | You have a direct image address and permission to use it | The external owner can block, move, delete, or stop sharing the image |
| Drag and drop or paste | You want the quickest editor workflow | Confirm that a persistent copy was uploaded to the Media Library when needed |
Troubleshoot an image that will not appear
The image is blank or broken after using a URL
Open the address in a private browser window. If it redirects, requires a login, blocks hotlinking, or no longer exists, WordPress cannot display it reliably. Obtain permission and upload a copy to your Media Library, then replace the URL-based image.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The wrong image appears
Check the selected block and its media details. If you reused a file from the Media Library, verify that you did not choose a similarly named item. Replace the block’s image rather than editing unrelated page content.
The image is cropped unexpectedly
Inspect the aspect-ratio, Cover/Contain, focal-point, and fixed-height settings. Choose Contain to show the whole picture, remove a forced height, or adjust the focal point when a crop is intentional.
The image looks stretched
Return height to Auto and avoid setting width and height independently to conflicting values. A responsive image should preserve its original proportions unless the design deliberately uses a crop.
The editor does not show Openverse or certain sizes
Those controls depend on the theme and site setup. Use Upload or Media Library instead; their absence does not prevent you from adding an image.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The copied image does not persist
Look for an Upload to Media Library action in the block toolbar. Save a site-owned copy when the image must remain available even if the original document or remote source changes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or skip the browser setup
If you are generating images for documentation, previews, or automated content, ScreenshotNeo can return a website screenshot with one request instead of configuring a browser. Its API accepts a URL and returns PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF; the example below requests WebP:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo documentation for the available parameters. Before capture, it can accept cookie or consent banners and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in headers. ScreenshotNeo also provides an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card. Paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots; every feature is included on every plan, and yearly billing provides two months free. Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to begin.
Automate image capture with Python or Node.js
Python
import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
timeout=90,
)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const fs = await import('node:fs/promises');
await fs.writeFile('shot.webp', Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer()));Replace the target URL with the page you are allowed to capture. For a WordPress page, upload the resulting file through the Image block or Media Library, then add context-appropriate alternative text.
Before you publish: an image checklist
- Confirm that you have permission to use the image.
- Use a site-owned Media Library copy when a remote URL could change.
- Add purposeful alternative text, or mark the image decorative when it conveys nothing meaningful.
- Use a caption when attribution or explanation belongs on the page.
- Check width, height, aspect ratio, focal point, and Cover/Contain behavior.
- Preview the page at narrow and wide widths.
- Set a featured image separately when the theme needs one for listings or templates.
- Use a Gallery block when several images belong together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add an image without uploading it to WordPress?
Yes. Use Insert from URL, but the external site can block embedding or remove the file. Upload a permitted copy to the Media Library when you need durable control.
Why is my image not showing in the Media Library?
It may have been inserted only as a remote URL or pasted without being uploaded. Reinsert it with Upload, or use the toolbar’s Upload to Media Library option if available.
Should I use Cover or Contain?
Use Cover when filling a fixed area matters and cropping is acceptable. Use Contain when the entire image must remain visible, even if empty space appears.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
