How to Add Featured Images in WordPress

Featured images (also known as post thumbnails) are critical to your WordPress website’s visual appeal. They represent the content of your posts or pages and often appear on your homepage, blog page, or social media shares. Adding a featured image is straightforward, and this guide will walk you through the steps.

Step-by-Step Guide #

1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard #

First, log in to your WordPress website by navigating to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin and entering your username and password.

2. Create or Edit a Post/Page #

• To create a new post or page: Go to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New from the left-hand menu.
• To edit an existing post or page: Navigate to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages, find the post or page you want to edit, and click on the title to open it.

3. Locate the Featured Image Section #

Once you are in the post or page editor:

• Scroll down the right-hand side until you see the “Featured Image” box. This box may be located toward the bottom of the sidebar, depending on your theme and editor settings.

4. Add a Featured Image #

• Click on the “Set Featured Image” link within the “Featured Image” box. This will open the WordPress Media Library.
• Upload a new image by clicking on the “Upload Files” tab and selecting an image from your computer, or choose an existing image from your Media Library.
• Select your desired image and click the “Set Featured Image” button in the lower right corner. The image will now appear in the “Featured Image” box.

5. Optimize Your Featured Image (Optional) #

• Image Alt Text: Always add alt text to your image for better SEO and accessibility. You can do this in the “Attachment Details” pane when you select your image from the Media Library.
• Image Size: Make sure your image size is appropriate for your theme. Some themes specify optimal dimensions for featured images, which you should follow to ensure your images display correctly.

6. Publish or Update Your Post/Page #

• Once you’ve added and optimized your featured image, click “Publish” if it’s a new post/page or “Update” if you’re editing an existing one.
• Your featured image is now live and will appear wherever your theme displays featured images, such as on the homepage, blog page, or in widgets.

Troubleshooting #

Featured Image Not Showing Up #

• Check Theme Support: Ensure your theme supports featured images. If it doesn’t, you may need to enable them in your theme’s functions.php file using the add_theme_support('post-thumbnails'); function.
• Clear Caches: If you use a caching plugin, clear your cache to make sure the updated image is displayed.

These steps, you can ensure that your posts and pages have the perfect images to represent them across your site.

If you need further assistance or encounter issues, feel free to contact your theme’s support team or consult the WordPress forums.