Import External Images Into the WordPress Media Library

After you import blog posts into WordPress, many of their images can still load from your old platform's servers. WordPress shows them, but the files aren't in your Media Library, aren't in your backups, and can disappear when you close your old account. You can import them automatically with a plugin that copies external images when a post is saved, during the migration itself with Blog Porter, or one by one in the block editor.

Find the images that are still external

Each platform serves images from its own address. In WordPress, go to Posts → All Posts and search for the part that matches your old platform. WordPress searches post content as well as titles, so every result has at least one external image.

We checked these addresses on public blogs on each platform on 14 November 2026. Platforms can serve images from more than one address, so also open a few posts, right-click an image and open it in a new tab to see where it comes from.

Featured images don't show up in that search. Check that each post has one and that it appears in Media → Library.

Why it matters

• WordPress warns that an image you don't upload to your Media Library may stop displaying if the original file is moved, deleted or no longer shared.
• Squarespace says images imported into a self-hosted WordPress site may come across as links that stop working once you cancel your Squarespace site. Webflow says exported image links point to the original project and break for good if you delete it.
• Your WordPress backups don't include files that live on someone else's server.

Option 1: Import images automatically when you save a post

The free Auto Upload Images plugin finds external image addresses when you save a post, uploads those images to your Media Library and swaps in the new addresses. When we checked on 12 November 2026, it was at version 3.4.1, last updated in September 2026, with more than 20,000 active installations.

• It only runs when a post is saved. Posts already in WordPress have to be opened and updated again, and the plugin page doesn't describe a bulk option.
• It can only fix images that reached WordPress. It can't add images an import dropped.

Option 2: Import images during the migration with Blog Porter

If you haven't moved your blog yet, Blog Porter imports available inline and featured images into your Media Library while it creates the posts, and points each post at the new copies. It works for Wix, Blogger, Medium, Squarespace, Webflow and HubSpot.

• It imports in resumable batches and reuses images already imported in an earlier attempt instead of creating duplicates.
• When it finishes, it shows how many images were downloaded, reused or failed for each post. Retry failed or incomplete posts tries the failed ones again.
• It costs $0.20 per post, with a minimum of 5 posts, paid once. The free analysis shows the exact price before you pay.

If you already brought some posts across another way, move those to the trash before you import. Blog Porter only recognises posts it imported itself.

Option 3: Move the images by hand

Free, and fine for a handful of posts:

1. Open the post in the block editor. If it sits in one Classic block, select it and choose Convert to blocks.
2. Select an image. If its toolbar shows Upload to Media Library (an up arrow), click it. WordPress saves a copy to your Media Library and the block uses it.
3. Repeat for each image, then click Update.
4. Search again to see what's left.

Moving from another WordPress site?

The WordPress Importer can copy images for you: tick Download and import file attachments when you run it. See How to import blog posts into WordPress.

Moving from Wix? Move Wix blog images into the WordPress Media Library covers Wix's image addresses and how to get the full-size files.