Quick Links
Key Takeaways
- Perform some basic checks, like restarting your device, updating Chrome, and rebooting your router.
- Ensure JavaScript is enabled (Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > JavaScript > Sites Can Use JavaScript).
- Confirm that images are allowed to load (Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Images > Sites Can Show Images).
From disabled JavaScript to misconfigured browser settings, several factors can stop images from loading properly. If Chrome isn't loading images on websites, here are some potential fixes you can try.
1. Perform Some Preliminary Checks
Begin the troubleshooting process by performing some simple steps. Refresh the tab that isn't loading images, close the tab and reopen it, close your browser and relaunch it, and reboot your device. If these basic steps fail to resolve the issue, apply the remaining fixes.
2. Check JavaScript and Image Display Settings
Having JavaScript disabled in your browser settings can prevent images from loading. Likewise, blocking websites from showing images in the browser settings can contribute to the problem.
To ensure JavaScript is enabled in Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select "Settings." Then, go to the "Privacy and Security" tab on the left and click "Site Settings" on the right.
Here, navigate to the "Content" settings section and click "JavaScript." Ensure the toggle beside "Sites Can Use JavaScript" is checked. Also, if any website is listed under "Not allowed to use JavaScript," click on the three vertical dots next to it and click "Remove."
Then, return to the previous page, open the "Images" settings, and ensure the "Sites Can Show Images" option is selected. Then, unblock any sites that are blocked from showing images.
3. Ensure Your Internet Connection Is Stable
Chrome may have trouble loading images if your internet isn't connected or is extremely slow. To check if your internet is connected, open a new tab and search for anything. If you see search results, your internet is connected.
Next, ensure that your internet is stable. To do that, go to any web page, preferably one you haven't visited in a while, and see if the images load there. Also, use a website like Fast.com to confirm the speed of your connection. If images elsewhere don't load, or your speeds are slower than expected, reconnect your device to the router, reboot the router, and take other networking troubleshooting steps.
Browsers save a cached copy of a web page, including the images, and serve that to users even when the internet isn't connected. If images appear to load on some web pages but not on all, do not assume your internet is working properly. Instead, test your network connection by using the ping command properly before moving on. You may need to contact your internet service provider if your network is the fault.
4. Check for Website-Specific Problems
If images load successfully on other websites but not on a particular one, the problem could be specific to that website. If that's the case, make sure the website isn't down. Use a service like Down for Everyone or Just Me to check—enter the website URL in the search field, and press the Enter key.
The tool will notify you if there's any problem with the website and when the last outage was detected. If you are unable to view images because of an outage, wait for the site to fix the problem—if it's a small site, they may appreciate an email to make them aware. If there is no outage and the site appears to be working, move on to the next step.
5. Check for Extension Interference
Interference from extensions, especially those you might use to customize the appearance of Chrome, can also halt image loading. To rule out this possibility, turn off installed extensions one by one and reload the web page after turning off each extension.
If images start loading successfully after disabling a particular extension, that extension is likely the cause of the problem. So, uninstall or disable the Chrome extension. To do that, click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and go to Extensions > Manage Extensions.
To disable an extension, turn off the toggle next to it. To remove it, click "Remove" under the extension, then "Remove" again in the pop-up.
6. Disable the Reading Mode Flag
Some users have reported that Chrome fails to load images when the Reading Mode (formerly known as Reader Mode) flag is enabled in Chrome. So, make sure it isn't enabled.
To do that, enter "chrome://flags/" in Chrome's address bar and press Enter to open the Chrome flags page. Then, type "Reading Mode" in the search field, expand the dropdown next to "Reading Mode," and select "Disabled." Then, relaunch your browser.
7. Ensure Chrome Is Up-to-Date
Using an outdated browser can also impede image loading. To ensure Chrome is up-to-date, click three vertical dots in the top-right corner and navigate to Help > About Google Chrome.
Chrome will automatically update itself if it isn't already on the latest version. Once the update is complete, click "Relaunch" for the changes to take effect.
If you see the message "Chrome is up to date" on the About Chrome page, you're sorted.
8. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Occasionally, hardware acceleration can cause Chrome to lag, freeze, or crash. If this feature is enabled, it could also hinder the loading of images. So, turn off this feature to check.
To turn off hardware acceleration, go to "Settings," select the "System" tab on the left, and turn off the toggle next to "Use hardware acceleration when available."
If disabling hardware acceleration fails to resolve the issue, it's safe to go back and enable the feature again.
9. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
While cache generally speeds up the loading of previously visited web pages, it can cause problems over time if left uncleared. Therefore, clearing it may resolve the issue.
To clear your Chrome cache, click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select "Clear Browsing Data."
Then, select "All Time" from the time range, check the boxes beside "Cookies And Other Site Data" and "Cached Images and Files," and click "Clear Data."
10. Reset Chrome or Reinstall It
Resetting Chrome restores settings to the default. If images aren't loading due to a misconfigured setting, resetting the browser will resolve the issue.
To reset Chrome, go to "Settings," go to the "Reset Settings" tab on the left, and click "Restore settings to their original defaults." Then, click "Reset Settings" in the pop-up window.
If the problem persists after resetting, you can uninstall and reinstall Chrome from scratch.
Are images still not loading? If so, the issue may be localized to Chrome. In that case, try another browser entirely, like Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox.
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