Having trouble posting an image on WordPress, the wiki, or another web site? Here are two possible causes:
(1) The image you’re using isn’t in the right file format for posting on the web.
Images you post online should be in JPG or PNG format. Older or very simple images might be in GIF format. Other formats, like BMP, TIFF, Photoshop, and so on, are speciality formats that apply to the applications that created them or to using the images for print. They can’t be displayed in web browsers over the internet.
The main way you tell what format a file is in is by looking at its extension, which appears at the end of the file name. For example: grandparents.jpg or family-picnic.png
- If you see some other extension at the end of the file name, you’ll need to open the file in your graphics application, choose Save As from the File menu, select JPG or PNG from the dropdown menu of file formats, and save a new version, which should have the appropriate extension.
- If you see an appropriate extension, you might still want to follow the step above in case the extension doesn’t match the file’s actual file format.
(2) The image you’re using has a file name that makes it unsuitable for posting on the web.
Depending on the level of sensitivity of the site you’re trying to upload to, you may experience trouble uploading an image if its file name includes spaces, capital letters, or any punctuation other than hyphens. On almost all sites, you will be unable to upload an image file (or any type of file) if it doesn’t end in an extension that identifies its file format.
- If the file name ends in an appropriate extension (such as .jpg or .png), try changing the part that comes before the period in the extension, so that the file name is all lower case and has no spaces or punctuation other than hyphens. Also use a few descriptive terms instead of something random like screenshot.jpg For example: dove-ad-cosmo-dec10.jpg or wordpress-add-users-tab.png
- If the file name does not end in an extension and you’re certain you know what file format the file is in, you can manually add the extension. Try single clicking on the file name until it becomes editable, and then add .jpg or .png to the end.
In many cases, if you try to add an extension that reflects a different type of file format than what the file is actually in, your computer will give you a warning. (Simply changing the extension won’t solve any problems if the file is still in the wrong file format.) If you change the extension and your computer doesn’t give you a warning, that most likely means the extension you added matches the file’s actual file format.
- If the file name does not end in an extension and you’re not sure what file format the file is in, open it in your graphics application, choose Save As from the File menu, select JPG or PNG from the dropdown menu of file formats, and save a new version, which should have the appropriate extension at the end.
- If you see a check box in the Save As menu that says “Hide Extension,” make sure that box is NOT checked. I advise you to never check that box because file extensions are important for files you plan to post online.