Articles on: Matching Column

Product Images Field

Set up Product Images mapping in Stock Sync to bulk import, update, export, or replace product media, configure image URL prefixes, set default image fallbacks, and handle variant image assignments.


Available on: ✔️ Add | ✔️ Update | ✔️ Export



Watch the Product Images Walkthrough


Learn how to configure product image mappings and smart settings in Stock Sync.




How to Set Up Product Images


Clear UI navigation path: Go to App → Feed Settings → Step 2: Matching Column


  1. Add Field: Click Add more field and select Product Images.
  2. Select Feed Column: Choose the column(s) from your feed file containing image URLs.
  3. Configure Delimiters & Smart Settings: Click the gear icon next to the mapped Product Images field to adjust URL prefixes, image separators, replacement behavior, or variant assignments.
  4. Save Configuration: Click Save to confirm your field settings.


Support publicly downloadable images only. Images requiring login, FTP credentials, or restricted cloud drives are not supported.


Video files are not supported in the Product Images field. To update product videos, use the Product Video Links field (YouTube or Vimeo hosted only).




Product Images Smart Settings & Detailed Breakdown


1. Image Update Mode

Control how image updates behave when syncing existing products in your store.


Available on: ✔️ Update only



  • Only add images if the product has no image: Default setting. Populates media only when a product currently has zero images.
  • Skip existing images and import new images: Preserves current images in your store while appending new image URLs found in the feed.


2. Export Image Options

Choose how product images are structured when running an export feed.


Available on: ✔️ Export only



  • Export all images: Exports every product and variant image URL associated with the item.
  • Export images for each variant (fallback to product image): Exports variant-specific images, falling back to the main product image if a variant image is missing.
  • Export variant images only: Exports only image URLs assigned directly to variants, skipping blank entries.


3. Variant Image Mapping

Configure how image URLs in your feed file attach to specific product variants.



  • Link image to variant when image URL is same row as variant: Default setting. Assigns the image URL on a given row directly to the variant listed on that same row.
  • Assign first product images to all variants: Applies the primary image from the first row across all variants belonging to the parent product.



4. Image Alt Column Mapping

Map an Image Alt Text column to serve as accessibility descriptions or display fallback text if image URLs fail to load.



5. URL Prefix

Prepend a static domain or path string to relative image filenames in your feed file.



Example: If your feed provides hello.jpg, use <image_file> in the prefix input like https://www.image.com/images/large/<image_file>.jpg.


6. Default Image URL

Specify fallback image URLs (separated by commas) to assign when a product has no image listed in the feed file.


7. Image Column Separator

Define the delimiter used to separate multiple image URLs contained within a single feed cell.



By default, Stock Sync uses Auto selection. If image URLs contain commas, set the separator manually to a pipe (|) or a specific character.


8. Replace Product Images

Completely deletes all existing store product images and replaces them with the image URLs supplied in the feed file.



Replaces all existing store images. This operation is non-reversible and automatically disables itself after execution to prevent accidental media deletion.


9. Skip Update When Feed Value is Blank

Skips updating product images if the mapped image cell in the feed file is empty.



Enabled by default to prevent blank feed rows from removing existing store images.



Key Rules & Technical Details


  • Direct Image File URLs Required: Feed columns must contain direct image asset URLs ending in valid image formats (e.g., .jpg, .png), not web page URLs or preview links.
  • Server IP Whitelisting: If a supplier server blocks automated image downloads, whitelist Stock Sync's IP address: 52.20.189.51.
  • Public Accessibility: Image links must be publicly accessible via https:// without requiring login credentials or FTP authentication.
  • Special Characters: Special characters or spaces in URLs (like | or unescaped spaces) can cause "Media processing failed" errors during Shopify import.
  • Filename Conflicts: Shopify automatically appends random characters to uploaded filenames when similar image filenames already exist in the store catalog.



Troubleshooting Steps


  • Issue: Images fail to import or return HTTP 403 errors → Solution: Test the direct image URL in an incognito browser window. If access is restricted, ask your supplier to whitelist Stock Sync's server IP 52.20.189.51
  • Issue: Multiple image URLs in a single cell are not parsing correctly → Solution: Change the Image Column Separator setting from Auto to a specific delimiter (e.g., pipe | or comma ,).
  • Issue: Placeholder images (e.g., noImage.png) are importing into store → Solution: In Smart Settings, use Find to target the placeholder URL and leave Replace empty to skip importing it.
  • Issue: Images are assigning to the wrong product variants → Solution: Ensure each variant has a unique SKU/Identifier, or enable Link image to variant when image URL is same row as variant.



Good Articles to Continue


Updated on: 15/10/2026

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