Before you start
Install and activate Automatically Import External Images. Use an image URL that opens directly in your browser, such as a URL ending in .jpg or .png. Make sure you have permission to use the image.
Import one image
- Open a post or page in the WordPress editor.
- Add an Image block, select Insert from URL, and enter the external image URL. Add useful alt text.
- Save or update the post. The plugin checks image URLs in saved post content and imports eligible external images.
- Open Media → Library and look for the imported image.
- View the saved post and inspect the image URL. It should now point to your site's uploads directory, rather than the original image host.
The import runs when the post is saved. Installing the plugin does not automatically process every older post. To process existing content in batches, use Settings → Auto Import External Images → Bulk Import.
If the image stays external
- Confirm the URL opens the image directly and is reachable from your WordPress server. A webpage containing an image is not the image URL.
- Check Settings → Auto Import External Images. The Base URL should represent your own image host; images already on that host are treated as local.
- Check whether the post type or source domain is excluded. If you enabled imports without file extensions, check the Allowed domains list too.
- Images with no file extension, or URLs that rely on a dynamic path or query parameters, need their corresponding settings enabled. Review the source domain before enabling these options.
If an eligible image still does not import, contact support with the image URL, the post type, and any error shown by WordPress. Do not send private site credentials in a support message.