Markdown Image Not Showing? Here's How to Fix It

Comprehensive guide to fixing common Markdown image display issues. From broken links to path errors, we cover all solutions.

Common Reasons Why Markdown Images Don't Show

Quick Check:

  • Is the image path correct?
  • Is the image URL accessible?
  • Is the file extension correct?
  • Are you using the right syntax?

1. Incorrect Image Path

Problem: The most common issue is an incorrect file path.

Solution: Check if your path is correct:

  • Absolute path: https://example.com/image.jpg
  • Relative path: ./images/photo.jpg (relative to Markdown file)
  • Root path: /images/photo.jpg (from website root)

2. Image File Doesn't Exist

Problem: The image file doesn't exist at the specified path.

Solution:

  1. Verify the file exists
  2. Check file name spelling (case-sensitive on some systems)
  3. Ensure file extension matches (.jpg vs .jpeg vs .png)

3. Image URL Not Accessible

Problem: The image URL is not publicly accessible.

Solution:

  • Use a public image hosting service (GitHub, Imgur, etc.)
  • Check if the URL requires authentication
  • Verify the image is publicly shared

4. Wrong Markdown Syntax

Problem: Incorrect Markdown image syntax.

Correct syntax:

![Alt text](image-url)

Common mistakes:

  • Missing exclamation mark: [text](url) (this creates a link, not an image)
  • Wrong brackets: ![text](url) is correct
  • Spaces in path: Use %20 or avoid spaces

5. GitHub Images Not Showing

Problem: Images uploaded to GitHub aren't displaying.

Solution: Use the correct GitHub raw URL format:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/username/repo/branch/path/to/image.jpg

Note: Don't use the GitHub file view URL. Always use the raw.githubusercontent.com URL.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Step 1: Check Image Syntax

Verify your Markdown syntax is correct:

![Alt text](image-url)

Step 2: Verify Image Path

Test the image URL:

  1. Copy the image URL
  2. Paste it in your browser's address bar
  3. If the image loads, the URL is correct
  4. If not, fix the path

Step 3: Check File Extension

Ensure the file extension matches:

  • .jpg / .jpeg for JPEG images
  • .png for PNG images
  • .gif for animated images
  • .webp for WebP format

Step 4: Test in Different Markdown Renderer

Some issues are renderer-specific. Test in:

  • GitHub preview
  • VS Code Markdown preview
  • Online Markdown editor
  • Our free tool

Prevention: Best Practices

Prevent image issues before they happen:

  • Use our free tool - Automatically handles image uploads and generates correct syntax
  • Use image hosting - Don't rely on local files for shared Markdown
  • Use descriptive filenames - Avoid special characters and spaces
  • Optimize images - Smaller files load faster and are more reliable
  • Test after changes - Always verify images display correctly

Platform-Specific Issues

GitHub

For GitHub repositories:

  • Use raw.githubusercontent.com URLs
  • Path is relative to repository root
  • Branch name is required in URL

Local Markdown Files

For local files:

  • Use relative paths: ./images/photo.jpg
  • Path is relative to the Markdown file location
  • Ensure images folder exists in the same directory structure

Jekyll / Static Sites

For Jekyll and static site generators:

  • Images in assets or images folder
  • Use root-relative paths: /images/photo.jpg
  • Check site configuration for asset paths

Still Having Issues?

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  • Uploads images to GitHub
  • Generates correct Markdown syntax
  • Handles paths automatically
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