Fix Facebook Thumbnail Not Showing Correctly in WordPress
Sharing posts on Facebook is a great way to increase traffic to your WordPress website. However, sometimes the Facebook thumbnail does not display correctly, or it shows the wrong image. This issue can affect your click-through rate and the overall presentation of your posts on social media. In this guide, we will explain why this happens and how to fix it step by step.
Why Facebook Thumbnails Don’t Show Correctly
Facebook uses Open Graph (OG) meta tags to determine which image, title, and description to display when a post is shared. Common reasons for thumbnails not showing correctly include:
- No Featured Image: If your post doesn’t have a featured image, Facebook may select an incorrect image from the content.
- Missing Open Graph Tags: OG tags are not set in your post, so Facebook cannot determine the correct image.
- Image Size Too Small: Facebook prefers images with at least 1200x630 pixels for proper display.
- Cached Old Data: Facebook may cache an older version of your post.
- Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Some SEO or social sharing plugins may interfere with OG tags.
Step 1: Set a Featured Image in WordPress
Always add a high-quality featured image to your post:
- Open your WordPress Dashboard → Posts → Add New or Edit Post.
- On the right sidebar, find the Featured Image section.
- Click Set Featured Image and upload a relevant image (recommended size: 1200x630 px).
- Publish or update the post.
Step 2: Add Open Graph Tags Using a Plugin
Open Graph tags help Facebook identify the correct image and description:
- Install a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
- Go to the plugin settings → Social → Facebook.
- Enable Add Open Graph meta data.
- Specify a default image for posts that don’t have a featured image.
Step 3: Clear Facebook Cache Using the Debugger
Facebook caches URLs for performance, which can cause old thumbnails to show:
- Enter your post URL and click Debug.
- Click Scrape Again to refresh Facebook’s cache.
- Check the preview to confirm the correct thumbnail appears.
Step 4: Ensure Proper Image Size
Facebook recommends images with at least 1200x630 pixels. Smaller images may appear cropped or not show:
- Use WordPress media library to upload high-resolution images.
- Crop images to proper aspect ratio (1.91:1) if needed.
- Avoid very large images (>8MB) to prevent upload issues.
Step 5: Check Plugin and Theme Conflicts
Sometimes plugins or themes may override OG tags:
- Deactivate other SEO or social sharing plugins temporarily.
- Check if the thumbnail now displays correctly on Facebook.
- If yes, identify the conflicting plugin and configure it correctly.
- Ensure your theme supports Open Graph tags or add them manually in the header.
Step 6: Use Manual OG Tags in Header (Optional)
If plugins are not an option, you can manually add Open Graph tags in your theme’s header.php file:
Update the header and clear caches.
Step 7: Test Sharing on Facebook
After making changes, always test the post:
- Copy the post URL.
- Open Facebook and paste the URL in a new post.
- Check if the correct thumbnail, title, and description appear.
Conclusion
Fixing Facebook thumbnail issues in WordPress is usually straightforward. By setting a proper featured image, adding Open Graph tags, clearing the cache, and ensuring image size is correct, you can ensure your posts display correctly on Facebook. This improves your social engagement and maintains a professional appearance for your website.

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