I downloaded a backup of my website to load onto my localhost (testing server), and then downloaded a copy of all the images from my live website to the uploads folder on my testing server. The images are listed (in the WordPress Media Library), but the actual images are not being displayed?
These are the steps I took:
The images were listed in WordPress Media Library, but the actual images were missing?
This solution will work in both directions:
Or, it may give you a clue on the specific issue you may have in getting your own images to appear…
After a lot of digging around, I found I had a plugin installed on my live website ‘WebP Express’, that wasn’t installed on my localhost testing server?
WebP Express creates/modifies an htaccess file and changes the format of the images so they are more ‘web friendly’.
Because the plugin wasn’t installed, WordPress and its Media Library wouldn’t display the actual images. I installed the plugin and my images appeared. Therefore:
Note:
If a plugin was the cause of the issue, once the plugin is installed and activated. If you deactivate or delete it after it has been installed. Your images may still be visible, as the plugin will have made changes to WordPress that are still active.
Hope this helps…