How to handle missing images?
1. First Import (Initial Upload)
When images are imported for the first time, all selected images are added to the system.
Example:
- image1.jpg
- image2.jpg
Result:
- image1.jpg
- image2.jpg
2. Skip Existing Images
Disabled
When Skip Existing Images is disabled, the system does not check for duplicates.
Behavior:
- Existing images may be re-imported.
- Duplicate images can occur.
Example Input:
image1.jpg, image2.jpg
Result:
- image1.jpg
- image2.jpg
Note: If the same images are uploaded again, they may overwrite or duplicate depending on system rules.
Enabled
When Skip Existing Images is enabled, the system checks for already existing images and imports only new ones.
Behavior:
- Existing images are skipped.
- Only new images are added.
Example Input:
image1.jpg, image2.jpg, image3.jpg
Result:
- image1.jpg
- image2.jpg
- image3.jpg (new)
Issue might happen when the skip existing images enabled
If duplicate images exist in the update source and Skip Existing Images is enabled, duplicates may still be imported as new entries.
Behavior:
- Duplicate files are treated as new uploads.
- Multiple copies of the same image can appear.
Example Input:
image1.jpg, image1.jpg, image2.jpg, image2.jpg, image3.jpg
Result:
- image1.jpg
- image1.jpg (new)
- image2.jpg
- image2.jpg (new)
- image3.jpg (new)
Total Images: 5
Solution to solve the duplicate images issue
When both Replace Images and Skip Existing Images are enabled, the system performs a full refresh. (Recommended for Clean Re-import)
Behavior:
- Clears all existing images.
- Reimports all images as new.
- Prevents duplicates and ensures a clean image set.
Example Input:
image1.jpg, image2.jpg, image3.jpg
Process:
- Clear all existing images
- Reimport all images
Result:
- image1.jpg (new)
- image2.jpg (new)
- image3.jpg (new)
Additional Troubleshooting for Missing Images
If product images are missing even though the URLs are valid, check the following:
- Image Column Separator: If the image URLs contain commas, set the Image Column Separator manually (for example, use
|instead of Auto) to ensure proper parsing. - Mapping Issues: Ensure the image field is correctly mapped. If the mapping was not linked to a column, remap the image field and reimport.
- Missing Image Data: If the uploaded file does not contain image URLs, images will not import. Ensure your feed source includes an image column.
- Unsupported Image Endpoints: Some API endpoints deliver images in unsupported formats (e.g., ZIP files or endpoints requiring part numbers). Only direct image URLs can be used for image import
Updated on: 21/05/2026
Thank you!