Facebook share image not showing is a common issue many website owners face. When you share a post on Facebook, it’s frustrating when the right image doesn’t appear or no image shows at all. This issue is often caused by problems with Open Graph (OG) Tags, which are used by Facebook to fetch post data like the title, description, and image. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to fix this issue and ensure the correct image appears every time you share a post on Facebook.
Why Facebook Share Image Isn’t Showing
When you share a post from your website on Facebook, the platform uses OG Tags to gather important data like the post title, description, and image. If these tags are not set up properly, or if Facebook has cached outdated information, the wrong image may appear or no image at all. Let’s go over the steps to fix this problem.
1. Ensure OG Tags Are Properly Configured
The first step to fixing the Facebook share image not showing issue is to make sure your website’s OG Tags are configured properly. OG Tags provide structured data to Facebook and other social platforms. The key tag that controls the image display is og:image, which should point to the URL of the image you want to display.
Here’s an example of how to set up the essential OG Tags:
<meta property="og:title" content="Your Post Title" />
<meta property="og:description" content="A brief description of your post." />
<meta property="og:image" content="URL_of_Your_Image" />
<meta property="og:url" content="URL_of_Your_Post" />
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
Adding these tags ensures Facebook knows which title, description, and image to show when someone shares your post.
2. Use Correct Image Dimensions
Another common reason why Facebook share image not showing is because of incorrect image dimensions. Facebook has specific size requirements for images shared on the platform. The recommended size is:
- 1200 x 630 pixels (Aspect ratio: 1.91:1)
Images that are too small or not properly formatted may not display correctly. Make sure your image is in a suitable web format (JPEG, PNG) and is optimized for fast loading.
3. Clear Facebook’s Cache with the Debugger Tool
Sometimes, even after making changes to the OG Tags and image sizes, Facebook still uses cached data and shows outdated images. To fix this, you can use the Facebook Debugger Tool:
- Go to the Facebook Debugger Tool.
- Paste the URL of your post into the tool.
- Click on “Debug”.
- If outdated data is shown, click “Scrape Again” to refresh Facebook’s cache.
This will force Facebook to pull in the most current data for your post.
4. Optimize Your Thumbnail Image for the Web
To avoid issues with Facebook share image not showing, make sure your image is optimized for the web. Use tools like Photoshop or GIMP to compress and save your images in web-friendly formats (such as JPEG or PNG). An optimized image ensures faster loading times and better compatibility across different platforms.
5. Clear Your Website’s Cache
If your website uses caching plugins or server-side caching, be sure to clear the cache after updating your posts or images. Cached data can prevent changes from appearing on Facebook. Once the cache is cleared, Facebook will fetch the updated content when you share the post.
6. Check CDN Configuration
If you use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve your images, ensure the images are correctly uploaded and accessible through the CDN. Sometimes, issues with the CDN can prevent Facebook from fetching the right image, causing the Facebook share image not showing problem.
7. Test with Facebook’s Sharing Debugger
Once you’ve made all the necessary changes, it’s important to test how your content will appear on Facebook. Use the Facebook Sharing Debugger to check if the correct image, title, and description are appearing when sharing your link.
Conclusion
Fixing the issue of Facebook share image not showing is typically a matter of ensuring that your OG Tags are configured properly, using the right image dimensions, and clearing caches when necessary. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make sure Facebook always displays the correct image when sharing your posts.
For more tips on improving your website’s visibility on social media, check out our SEO guide.
