Image uploads don’t match display expectations due to wrong settings.
Misconfigured Media Settings
Key Points: Uploaded images appear pixelated, wrong size, or distorted due to media setting mismatches.
You upload a crisp image — and WordPress turns it into a blurry mess. Or your thumbnails are the wrong size. Media settings control how your images are resized and displayed — and when they’re off, the results are ugly.
🔍 Causes
- Theme expects specific image sizes not defined in WordPress
- Media settings resized but old images not regenerated
- Thumbnails cropped in the wrong aspect ratio
🛠️ What to Do
- Go to Settings → Media and set correct image dimensions
- Check your theme’s documentation for expected image sizes
- Install and run Regenerate Thumbnails plugin
🎨 Pro Tip
If you’re running a portfolio or visual-heavy site, test media uploads on staging with different devices and screen sizes. Don’t let blurry thumbnails hurt your first impression.