The share image can't be loaded

Why it matters

A network's scraper fetches your og:image from its own servers, with nothing but the address in the tag. If that address is relative (/img/share.png), answers 404, redirects to a login page or returns something that isn't an image, the preview has no picture, and because networks cache previews for days it stays that way after you fix it. WhatsApp states that the address must be absolute; the other networks only ever show absolute ones. An http:// image is blocked as mixed content by apps that show previews over https.

Sources: WhatsApp link previews; Facebook: images in link shares. No network publishes an https requirement, which is why http is a warning, not an error.

How to fix it

Use the full https:// address of an image anyone can load without signing in, and open it in a private window to check:

<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.example.com/share.png" />

After fixing, make each network fetch it again: Facebook's Sharing Debugger and LinkedIn's Post Inspector both have a button for it.

Examples

These are the rule's own test pages, and what it says about each. They are run on every change to the rule book.

<title>Flour &amp; Co</title>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.example.com/share.png">

Share image: 404 Not Found · text/html

ErrorThe share image answers 404, so previews have no picture.

fail-404

<title>Flour &amp; Co</title>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.example.com/share.png">

Share image: 200 OK · text/html

ErrorThe og:image address returns text/html, not an image, so previews have no picture.

fail-html-not-image

<title>Flour &amp; Co</title>
<meta property="og:image" content="http://www.example.com/share.png">

WarningThe og:image address is http, not https; apps that show previews securely may refuse to load it.

fail-http

<title>Flour &amp; Co</title>
<meta property="og:image" content="/img/share.png">

ErrorThe og:image address is not a full URL ("/img/share.png"), so scrapers can't find the image.

fail-relative

<title>Flour &amp; Co</title>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.example.com/share.png">

Share image: 200 OK · image/png · 120 KB · 1200×630

PassedThe share image loads from a full https address.

pass-https-200

<title>Shop</title>
<meta property="og:image" content="http://www.example.com/cdn/logo.jpg">
<meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.example.com/cdn/logo.jpg">

PassedThe share image loads from a full https address.

pass-secure-url-beside-http