Have you ever added a product to your WooCommerce store, only to see a random, generic placeholder image appear instead of your own? This is a common first-day experience for many new store owners. It happens because WooCommerce, right out of the box, has a default system for handling missing images. But what if you could control that placeholder? And more importantly, what if you could master adding beautiful, professional product photos and galleries?
This guide is here to do just that. By the end of this post, you will confidently know how to set a branded placeholder image, upload a main product photo, and create an engaging product gallery that makes your items shine.
Understanding the Default WooCommerce Placeholder
When you first install WooCommerce, it automatically adds a single image to your WordPress Media Library. This image is set as the default “Placeholder image.”
So, what does this placeholder do? Simple: if you create a product and forget to upload a featured image, WooCommerce will automatically display this default placeholder instead. This prevents your store from showing broken image links, which can look unprofessional.
In the video, you can see this in action. A product was created without a featured image, yet a placeholder still appeared. This wasn’t magic—it was WooCommerce’s built-in functionality at work.
[Screenshot of a WooCommerce product page showing the default gray placeholder image]
How to Change the Default Placeholder Image
You don’t have to stick with the default. Creating a custom placeholder is a fantastic way to maintain your brand identity, even for products missing photos. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Create and Upload Your New Placeholder
First, you need a new image. This should be a simple, on-brand graphic. You can create one using free tools like Canva or Inkscape. A good placeholder might include your logo and text like “Image Coming Soon.”
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Media > Add New.
- Drag and drop your new placeholder image or select it from your computer.
- Once uploaded, click on the image in your Media Library.
[Screenshot of the WordPress Media Library showing the newly uploaded custom placeholder image]
Step 2: Find the Image ID
Every file in your Media Library has a unique ID number. You’ll need this number for the next step.
- After clicking the image, look in your browser’s address bar or the attachment details popup. You will see a URL parameter like
?attachment_id=16or a field labeled “File ID.” The number (e.g.,16) is the Image ID. - Copy this number.
[Screenshot highlighting the attachment_id or File ID number in the WordPress media editor]
Step 3: Update the WooCommerce Setting
Now, we tell WooCommerce to use your new image as the default.
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings.
- Click on the Products tab and then select General.
- Scroll down until you find the field labeled Placeholder image.
- Delete the old number in this field and paste the new Image ID you copied in Step 2.
- Click Save Changes.
[Screenshot of the WooCommerce Settings > Products > General page, highlighting the Placeholder image input field]
And that’s it! Now, any product without a featured image will display your new, branded placeholder.
How to Set a Product Featured Image
Of course, the goal is to have beautiful photos for all your products. Adding a featured image is straightforward.
- Go to Products > All Products and Edit the product you want to update.
- In the product editor, on the right-hand side, you’ll find the Product image box.
- Click Set product image.
- Either select an image from your Media Library or upload a new one.
- Click the Set product image button.
- Finally, Update your product.
[Screenshot of the product edit screen, highlighting the "Set product image" meta box]
If you now visit your shop page, you’ll see your product with its new image. WooCommerce even adds a nice hover-zoom effect by default, giving a professional touch without any extra effort.
Creating an Engaging Product Gallery
Customers love to see products from multiple angles. A product gallery is perfect for this. Let’s add one.
- While still editing your product, look for the Product gallery box, usually located just below the Product image box.
- Click Add product gallery images.
- A media upload window will appear. To select multiple images, hold down the Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) key and click on all the additional photos you want to include.
- Once they are selected, click the Add to gallery button.
- Update the product.
[Screenshot of the product edit screen, highlighting the "Product gallery" meta box with multiple images selected]
Now, when you view the product, you’ll see the main featured image, with a row of smaller thumbnail images below it. Customers can click on any thumbnail to change the main view, and the zoom effect will work on all of them.
Want to Put This Lesson into Practice?
Reading about a setting is one thing, but the best way to learn WooCommerce is by doing. If you’re nervous about breaking your live store, or don’t have a safe place to experiment, a ‘sandbox’ is the perfect solution.
We offer a WooScribe Practice Account that gives you a pre-built WooCommerce store to test, tweak, and practice on, completely risk-free.
[Link to your Practice Account Service Page]
Ready to Go from Practice to Pro?
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you might wonder, “What’s next?” A practice account is great for testing, but a structured course gives you the complete roadmap from beginner to confident store owner.
Our comprehensive course guides you through every aspect of WooCommerce, from setup and product creation to advanced shipping, payments, and marketing, all with expert guidance.
If you’re serious about mastering WooCommerce, check out our WooCommerce 101 – Recorded Video Course.
Conclusion
Mastering your product images is a crucial step in building a trustworthy and appealing online store. You’ve learned how to take control by setting a custom placeholder, uploading professional featured images, and creating multi-image galleries to showcase your products. These steps dramatically improve the customer experience and are fundamental to your store’s success. Keep practicing and refining these skills—your store will look more professional with every product you add.
Common Questions About WooCommerce Product Images
What’s the ideal size for WooCommerce product images?
While WooCommerce is flexible, a good standard is to use square images at 1000×1000 pixels. This ensures your images look sharp on all devices and work well with the built-in zoom feature without slowing down your site.
Can I change the zoom effect on the product images?
Yes, the zoom and lightbox effects are often controlled by your WordPress theme. Some themes offer settings to disable or modify this. You can also achieve more advanced changes with specific plugins or custom code.
Why are my gallery images blurry?
This is usually caused by uploading images that are too small. WooCommerce creates several resized versions of your uploads. If the original image is smaller than the maximum size needed, the enlarged version can appear blurry. Always upload the highest quality, appropriately sized image you can.
