Fix WooCommerce Product Images Not Loading on the Product Page

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Problem
• What’s the Real Issue?
• Types of Product Images on a WooCommerce Product Page
• Common Signs on WooCommerce Product Pages
• What Causes Product Images Not to Load?
• Fix Image Display Problems on the Product Page
• Useful Plugins to Manage Product Images
• Best Practices to Avoid Future Image Issues
• Conclusion

Understanding the Problem

Product images are a key part of any online store. In WooCommerce, they help customers see what they are buying. But sometimes, images do not load on the product page. This creates a poor user experience and reduces trust in your store. It can also lead to fewer sales.

If your WooCommerce product images are not loading on the product page, you are not alone. Many store owners face this issue. We’ll explain the problem in simple terms. We’ll also cover the different types of images used on the product page. This will help you better understand what might be broken and how to fix it later.

What’s the Real Issue?

When we say “images not loading,” it can mean many things. Here are a few examples:

• The main product image is missing.
• Gallery images are blank or stuck.
• Thumbnails do not appear or are broken.
• Variation images don’t update when selected.

This issue happens only on WooCommerce product pages, not on your home page or blog. That makes it even more confusing.

These are not random problems. They often point to something specific like a theme issue, plugin conflict, or broken file. Fixing them starts with knowing which type of image is not working.

Types of Product Images on a WooCommerce Product Page

Understanding the different image types helps with better troubleshooting. Let’s break them down:

1. Main Product Image

This is the large image shown at the top of the product page. It shows the product clearly so customers can understand what they are buying.

If this image is not loading, users might leave the page immediately. It’s often the first thing they notice.

Common problems:

• File not uploaded correctly
• Wrong image size
• Broken link or missing file

2. Product Image Gallery

Below or beside the main image, you usually see a gallery. This shows multiple views or styles of the product. It helps customers explore more.

When this gallery gets stuck or does not load:

• Users can’t see product details
• Lightbox or zoom features break

Gallery issues often relate to:

• JavaScript errors
• Theme conflicts
• Lazy loading plugins

3. Variation Images

These images change when the user selects a different option. For example, choosing “Red” might show a red shirt instead of blue.

When variation images don’t load:

• Customers may think the product is broken
• They might leave without buying

This often happens due to:

• Missing images for specific variations
• JavaScript conflicts
• Wrong variation setup in the product editor

4. Thumbnail Images

Thumbnails are small clickable images that sit below the main image. They let users switch between gallery images.

If these thumbnails don’t show:

• The gallery becomes hard to use
• Customers miss key product views

This can happen due to:

• Theme styling issues
• CSS hiding thumbnails
• Plugin or cache problems

Common Signs on WooCommerce Product Pages

When your WooCommerce product images are not loading on the product page, it can be frustrating. But before trying to fix the problem, it’s important to know exactly what’s going wrong. Here, we’ll walk you through the most common symptoms store owners face. These signs will help you better understand the issue and make it easier to fix later.

Not all image issues look the same. Here are the most reported problems:

1. Main Product Image Not Showing

The main image is the largest one on the product page. When it doesn’t appear:

• The area might be blank.
• A broken image icon may show.
• Users might think your product is not real.

This is often caused by a missing image file or wrong settings.

2. Product Image Gallery Stuck on Loading

Your gallery might keep spinning without ever showing images. This can happen when:

• JavaScript fails to load properly.
• The gallery is not supported by your theme.
• A plugin is blocking the gallery script.

If users can’t scroll through your product images, they may leave your site.

3. Variation Images Not Updating

WooCommerce lets you show different images for product variations. For example, different colors or sizes. But sometimes, when users select a variation, the image does not change.

This creates confusion and may lead to abandoned carts.

Possible causes:

• Variation image not set in the product editor.
• A plugin is blocking the update.
• JavaScript error on the page.

4. Thumbnails Not Visible or Clickable

Thumbnails are the small images below or beside the main image. If these are missing:

• Users can’t switch between gallery photos.
• Product pages look broken or incomplete.

This could happen due to:

• Theme styling errors
• Broken image links
• Caching issues

5. Images Not Displaying on Mobile

Sometimes, images work fine on desktop but not on mobile. This can be caused by:

• Lazy loading plugins
• Mobile theme bugs
• Conflicting JavaScript

Always check the product page on your phone to confirm this.

What Causes Product Images Not to Load?

Now that you’ve spotted the problem, let’s look at why it happens. Image issues often come from one of these areas:

1. Theme Compatibility Issues

Your theme controls how images display. If it’s not built for WooCommerce:

• Gallery features may break.
• CSS might hide key elements.
• Scripts needed for images won’t run.

2. Plugin Conflicts

Some plugins change how images are loaded or displayed. These may include:

• Lazy loading or performance plugins
• Image sliders or lightboxes
• Caching tools

These plugins can block scripts or delay image loading.

3. Broken or Missing Image Files

Sometimes, the image file isn’t there or the path is wrong. This can happen when:

• You move your site to another server.
• Images aren’t uploaded properly.
• Image links are broken.

4. Variation or Gallery Settings Not Configured

Missing variation images or gallery options can break the layout. Common mistakes:

• Not uploading images for each variation.
• Not enabling gallery or zoom in settings.
• Forgetting to regenerate thumbnails.

Fix Image Display Problems on the Product Page

Now that you know what the problem looks like and what causes it, let’s fix it. This part walks you through easy and effective steps to solve product image issues on your WooCommerce product page. Each solution is based on real issues faced by store owners.

Step 1: Check If Images Are Uploaded Properly

Start with the basics. Go to your WordPress dashboard and check your Media Library.

• Open Media > Library
• Look for missing or broken image files
• Make sure product images are visible and not blank

If you see a grey icon or broken link, the image didn’t upload correctly. In that case, re-upload the image using the product editor.

Step 2: Regenerate Thumbnails

Sometimes, images are uploaded but not sized correctly. This causes them not to appear.

To fix this:

• Install the Regenerate Thumbnails plugin
• Go to Tools > Regenerate Thumbnails
• Click “Regenerate All Thumbnails”

This creates the correct image sizes for your product page. It also helps fix blurry or missing thumbnails.

Step 3: Switch to a Default WooCommerce Theme

Some themes don’t fully support WooCommerce image functions. Try using a default theme like Storefront.

Steps to test:

• Go to Appearance > Themes
• Activate the Storefront theme temporarily
• Visit your product page to see if images load

If the issue disappears, your theme is likely the cause. In that case, contact your theme developer or switch to a WooCommerce-compatible theme.

Step 4: Deactivate All Non-Essential Plugins

Plugins often conflict with image scripts, especially gallery or performance tools.

Try this:

• Deactivate all plugins except WooCommerce
• Check if the images now appear correctly
• Reactivate plugins one by one and test after each

This helps you find the exact plugin causing the problem.

Watch out for:

• Lazy load plugins
• Image sliders
• JavaScript-heavy page builders

Step 5: Clear Cache and CDN

Old cached files may block updated images from showing. You should:

• Clear your browser cache
• Clear your site cache (if using caching plugin)
• Purge your CDN cache (like Cloudflare)

Once done, reload your product page. Use incognito mode or a different browser to double-check.

Step 6: Use Developer Tools to Find Errors

Modern browsers let you check if images fail to load.

Here’s how:

• Open your product page
• Right-click and select Inspect
• Go to the Console tab

Look for:

• Red error messages
• 404 (Not Found) errors on image URLs
• JavaScript conflicts

If you find broken links, the image paths are likely incorrect. Re-upload the image or fix the path.

Step 7: Reconfigure Variation Images

If variation images are not changing when selected, double-check your product setup.

Steps:

• Go to Products > All Products
• Edit the product that has variations
• Open the Variations tab under “Product Data”
• Make sure each variation has its own image

If images are missing, upload them manually. Also, ensure the product is saved and updated.

Sometimes, a plugin or script prevents the variation image from updating. Try disabling variation swatches plugins if issues continue.

Step 8: Enable Lightbox, Zoom, and Gallery Settings

WooCommerce has built-in options for gallery features. If they are turned off, images may not work as expected.

To check:

• Go to Appearance > Customize
• Open WooCommerce > Product Images
• Make sure the following are enabled:
  • Enable Lightbox
  • Enable Zoom
  • Enable Gallery

Turn these settings on, save changes, and test your product page again.

Step 9: Fix Mobile-Specific Image Issues

Images may load on desktop but not on mobile. This could be due to lazy loading or mobile styling errors.

Try these solutions:

• Turn off lazy loading in your image plugin
• Check mobile view using Chrome’s Developer Tools
• Make sure your theme is responsive
• Test with the Storefront theme to rule out mobile issues

Useful Plugins to Manage Product Images

The right plugins can improve how images load and display. They also help prevent many common problems from happening again.

Here are some must-have tools:

1. Regenerate Thumbnails

This plugin helps fix missing or incorrect image sizes.

• Rebuilds image sizes after changing themes or settings
• Fixes blurry, stretched, or missing images
• Easy to use from your WordPress dashboard

2. ShortPixel or Smush (Image Optimization Plugins)

These tools reduce image file sizes without losing quality.

Benefits include:

• Faster page loading
• Less strain on your server
• Better mobile performance

3. WooCommerce Variation Swatches Plugin

If you use product variations, this plugin helps display images better.

It adds:

• Color and image swatches
• Improved variation image handling
• Fewer bugs when switching between product options

4. Lazy Load Control

Too much lazy loading can break galleries. Use a plugin that lets you:

• Turn off lazy loading for product images only
• Keep performance high without hiding important images

Choose a plugin that works well with WooCommerce.

Best Practices to Avoid Future Image Issues

Along with using helpful plugins, follow these tips to avoid future problems:

1. Always Use Correct Image Sizes

WooCommerce has recommended image dimensions. Follow them when uploading:

• Main image: 800 x 800 px or higher
• Gallery images: Same size as main image
• Thumbnails: 300 x 300 px

Upload clean, high-quality images that fit these sizes.

2. Use WooCommerce-Compatible Themes

Not all WordPress themes support WooCommerce well. Always choose:

• Official WooCommerce themes
• Themes with good support and updates
• Lightweight themes optimized for performance

3. Keep Everything Updated

Old themes or plugins can cause image problems. To stay safe:

• Update WooCommerce regularly
• Keep your theme and plugins up to date
• Check for plugin conflicts after updates

4. Test on a Staging Site

Before making big changes, use a staging site. This helps you:

• Avoid breaking your live store
• Catch image issues early
• Try new plugins or settings safely

Conclusion

Your WooCommerce store relies on great images. When product images don’t load, it affects sales, trust, and user experience.

By following these practices, you’ll:

• Prevent image errors
• Speed up your site
• Improve your customers’ experience

If your product images still aren’t working, don’t worry. Our team at WooHelpDesk is here to help.

👉 Need support? Reach out to our experts today and fix it fast!