How do I import images for products successfully?

To import product images successfully, ensure your image field mapping includes all possible image sources from your feed. For XML or JSON feeds with multiple image fields, use a combined JMESPath mapping such as:

{{data | jmespath: '[ItemImageLargeUrl, AlternateItemImages.Img[].Url || AlternateItemImages.Img.Url ][]' | json}}

For CSV or other feeds with multiple image columns, map every image column to Product Images. If several image URLs are stored in one cell, set Image Column Separator to the delimiter used in the file.

In Step 2 → Product Images → Smart Settings, select "Skip existing images, import new images" when adding images to products that already have images. For existing products, test the configuration with a sample SKU before removing filters and running the update for all products. Large imports may process images gradually; an image-only Update feed can be used to refresh missing images after processing.

Important additional checks for successful image import:

• Use direct, publicly downloadable image URLs. They must include the full protocol, such as https:; URLs beginning with // need https: added. URLs requiring login, FTP access, or restricted storage cannot be fetched.
• If the feed provides only filenames or paths, use Product Images → Smart Settings → URL Prefix to prepend the public image host/path to each filename and construct a direct image URL. This works when the resulting URL is publicly downloadable. For images stored on a separate FTP server, use Smart Image Sync with the Upload File, Google Drive, or Dropbox connection method; Smart Image Sync does not currently support direct SFTP connections. Direct FTP image-file links are not supported by the Product Images field.
• If updating images for existing products, make sure the feed’s force override setting is enabled when required; otherwise images may not update.
• Shopify will set the first URL in the image column as the primary image. Review your feed to ensure the intended featured image is listed first.
• Check that the mapped values are complete direct image URLs, not product-page URLs, incomplete URLs, empty fields, or placeholder values. Unsupported image URLs will be skipped automatically.
• If a supplier server blocks image requests, ask the supplier to whitelist Stock Sync’s server IP: 52.20.189.51.
• One product requires one import credit. A test import may therefore process only a small number of products before the remaining products are imported.

Updated on: 31/07/2026