Troubleshooting Common WordPress Media Library Issues After Migration or Hosting Changes

Encountering problems with your WordPress Media Library after a site migration or hosting change is a common and often frustrating experience. Based on community reports, issues can range from upload failures and missing images to broken search functionality. This guide will walk you through the most frequent causes and their solutions.

Common Post-Migration Media Library Problems

• Inability to upload new media files.
• Media Library not loading, stuck on a spinner.
• Search function returning no results, even though files are present.
• Images not appearing in the library list but displaying correctly on the front-end.
• "Failed to import media" errors during an XML import.

Why Do These Issues Happen?

Migrating a WordPress site involves moving a large database and numerous files. The process can sometimes introduce inconsistencies, especially with how file paths and database entries for media are handled. Common root causes include:

• File Permissions: Incorrect file permissions on the new server can prevent WordPress from creating new uploads or reading existing ones.
• Database Table Corruption: The database tables that store information about your media attachments (like wp_posts and wp_postmeta) can become corrupted or out of sync during transfer.
• Caching: Aggressive caching at the server, plugin, or browser level can cause the library to display outdated information or fail to show new uploads.
• PHP Configuration: The new host may have different PHP settings (e.g., memory limit, max upload size) that are too restrictive.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Start with Site Health

WordPress includes a built-in diagnostic tool. Navigate to Tools > Site Health. Check both the "Status" and "Info" tabs for any critical issues or recommendations related to the REST API, database, or permissions, which are all essential for the Media Library to function.

2. Rule Out Plugin and Theme Conflicts

Conflicts are a leading cause of functionality breaks.

1. Temporarily disable all plugins.
2. Switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four).
3. Check if the Media Library issue is resolved.
4. If it is, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one to identify the culprit.

3. Check and Repair the Database

For issues like missing media entries or broken search, the database is often the source. A migration can leave the wp_posts table in a state where it doesn't properly recognize all media items.

• Use a plugin like WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner to clean and optimize your database tables safely.
• For advanced users, a tool like WP Reset can be used to check and repair specific tables (use with extreme caution and always have a backup).

4. Clear All Caches

Clearing cache is a critical step that is often overlooked.

• Browser Cache: Perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 on Windows, Cmd+Shift+R on Mac) or clear your browser's cached images and files.
• Plugin Cache: Clear any cache from your caching plugins (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache).
• Server/OPcache: Contact your hosting provider and ask them to clear the server-level cache or OPcache.
• CDN: If you use a Content Delivery Network (e.g., Cloudflare), purge its cache.

5. Rebuild Missing Data with a Regeneration Plugin

If your images are physically on the server but not appearing correctly in the library, metadata may be missing. A plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails can help rebuild this data for your images.

6. Verify File Permissions

File permissions on your server must be set correctly for WordPress to write to the wp-content/uploads folder. Generally, folders should be set to 755 and files to 644. Your hosting provider's support team can assist you in verifying and correcting these permissions.

7. For Failed XML Imports

The built-in WordPress importer can struggle with large files. Solutions include:

• Using a different import plugin like All-in-One WP Migration or a dedicated import/export tool.
• Asking your host to increase PHP limits (max_execution_time, memory_limit) temporarily for the import process.
• Splitting a large XML file into smaller parts using an online tool or script.

When to Seek Further Help

If you have tried all the steps above and the issue persists, the problem may be highly specific to your server configuration. In this case, your best course of action is to contact your web hosting provider's support team. They can investigate server-level logs, permissions, and configuration issues that are not visible from within WordPress.

You can also create a detailed post on the WordPress Support Forums, including your Site Health info and the steps you've already taken, to get advice from the wider community.