Images not loading

Updated 11 October 2026

Short answer

Open Developer Tools → Network, filter to images, and reload. Each failing image shows a status. 404: the file isn't at that address (moved, renamed, not uploaded, or a case mismatch like Photo.JPG vs photo.jpg). 403: the server refuses it (permissions, or hotlink protection). Blocked: an http:// image on an HTTPS page. If images load slowly rather than failing, they're too big.

What's the problem

Images show as broken icons, blank spaces or alt text, everywhere or only on some pages, often after a migration, a domain change, or moving to HTTPS.

Why it happens

  • Wrong paths after a migration or domain change, often still pointing at the old domain.
  • Files missing from the server or the deploy.
  • Case sensitivity: works on your computer, fails on a Linux server.
  • Mixed content: http:// image links on an HTTPS site.
  • Permissions or hotlink protection returning 403.
  • A CDN or image service that's down or misconfigured.
  • Lazy-loading scripts failing, so images never get their real address.

How to fix it

  1. Check failing images in the Network tab and note the status and URL.
  2. For 404s, fix the path, re-upload the files, or search and replace old domain links in the database (back up first).
  3. For mixed content, change image links to https://.
  4. For 403s, check file permissions and hotlink protection rules.
  5. Check the console for errors from lazy-loading scripts.
  6. Compress and resize images that load but are slow.

What Preventionlabs checks

One click runs the full report on your domain. For this problem it shows page weight, oversized images and caching; up to 50 pages from your sitemap, listing any that fail or are slow, plus broken links on them; insecure http:// files on any of up to 50 pages. With Cloudflare connected, it also shows which pages returned server errors (5xx) to visitors, and when. It doesn't fill in forms, log in or make payments, so test the feature yourself as well.

Run your free report

Your first report is free, no card needed. Then A$50 a month, up to 10 domains. Read-only: it never changes anything.

Sources

  1. MDN Web Docs: <img>: The Image Embed elementreferenceIf an error occurs while loading or rendering an image, and an onerror event handler has been set for the error event, that event handler will get called.
  2. MDN Web Docs: Mixed contentreference"Mixed content" refers to securely loaded web pages that use resources to be fetched via HTTP or another insecure protocol.

Related

404 Not Found The page doesn't exist at that address. Usually a deleted or moved page, a typo in a link, or a site migration that broke URLs. Fix the link or add a redirect. Mixed content error Your secure (HTTPS) page loads some files over insecure HTTP. Browsers block them or drop the padlock. Change those links to HTTPS. 403 Forbidden The server understood the request but won't allow it. Usually file permissions, a missing index page, or a firewall or security rule blocking the visitor. Why is my website slow? Find out which part is slow: the server producing the page, or the browser loading heavy files. Measure first, then fix the slowest part.
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