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Why Your Featured Image Isn't Showing on Facebook and How to Fix It

35 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Yoast seo

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If you're struggling with Facebook not displaying your featured images when sharing links, you're not alone. This is one of the most common issues reported by users of the Yoast SEO plugin. Based on extensive community discussions, here's a comprehensive guide to understanding and resolving this frustrating problem.

Why This Happens

The Yoast SEO plugin correctly outputs the necessary Open Graph meta tags (like og:image) in your page's source code. However, Facebook's scraper sometimes fails to properly fetch and display the image. The issue is rarely with the plugin itself but rather with how Facebook interprets the data, cached content, or specific image characteristics.

Common Solutions and Troubleshooting Steps

1. Use the Facebook Sharing Debugger

This is your most important tool. Paste your URL into the Facebook Sharing Debugger. It will show you exactly what Facebook's scraper sees.

  • If the debugger shows the correct image, your setup is working. The problem is likely a cache issue on Facebook's end or in your browser. Use the debugger's "Scrape Again" button to force Facebook to refresh its cached data for your link.
  • If the debugger shows an error or the wrong image, proceed with the steps below.

2. Check Your Image Specifications

Facebook has specific requirements for images. If your image doesn't meet them, it may be ignored.

  • Dimensions: Use an image that is at least 1200 x 630 pixels. This is the recommended size for optimal display on high-resolution devices.
  • File Size: Keep the file size reasonable. Very large files may not be processed correctly.
  • File Name: This is a critical and often overlooked factor. Rename your image file to use only basic ASCII characters (e.g., letters A-Z, numbers 0-9). Avoid spaces, special characters, or non-Latin script (e.g., Cyrillic, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese). Facebook's scraper has known issues with non-ASCII characters in file paths.
  • Format: Use common formats like JPG or PNG.

3. Clear Caches

Caching can often be the culprit.

  • Facebook's Cache: Use the "Scrape Again" button in the Facebook Debugger to clear Facebook's cached version of your page.
  • Your Browser Cache: Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then restart the browser.
  • WordPress Cache: If you use a caching plugin on your site (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket), clear its cache after making any changes to your posts or images.

4. Verify the Image Source

Ensure you have set the image correctly within the Yoast SEO metabox on your post or page.

  • In the WordPress editor, scroll down to the Yoast SEO settings.
  • Click on the 'Social' tab.
  • Upload your preferred image in the "Facebook Image" or "Social image" field. This overrides the default featured image.

5. Understand Platform-Specific Quirks

Remember that different platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Twitter/X) have independent scrapers and caches. An image working on one platform but not another is a common occurrence and does not necessarily indicate a problem with your site. Always use the respective platform's debugger tool:

What Doesn't Cause the Issue

  • fb:app_id: A warning about a missing fb:app_id tag in the debugger is irrelevant and can be safely ignored. This tag has been deprecated for years.
  • og:image:secure_url: This tag was deprecated in Yoast SEO v14.0 and is no longer output. Its absence is not the cause of your problem.

When to Look Elsewhere

If you have confirmed that Yoast SEO is outputting the correct og:image tag and the Facebook debugger can fetch it without errors, but the image still doesn't appear in the iOS or Android app, the issue is likely with the Facebook app itself. In these cases, it is recommended to report the problem to Facebook's Developer Community Forum, as it is outside the control of your WordPress plugin.

By methodically working through these steps—starting with the Facebook Debugger—you can almost always identify and resolve the issue preventing your images from appearing on social media.

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