Why Are My Open Graph Images Not Updating?

Why Platforms Cache Open Graph Data

Social media platforms cache Open Graph data to:

• Improve performance: Faster preview generation for frequently shared URLs
• Reduce server load: Less strain on website servers
• Consistency: Same preview for all users sharing the same URL
• Reliability: Preview works even if your server is temporarily down

However, this aggressive caching means that when you update your Open Graph tags or images, the changes may not appear immediately.

Platform Cache Durations

Different platforms cache for different durations:

Facebook

• Cache duration: 7-30 days
• Clear cache tool: Facebook Sharing Debugger
• How to clear: Enter URL → Click "Scrape Again"

LinkedIn

• Cache duration: 7-14 days
• Clear cache tool: LinkedIn Post Inspector
• How to clear: Enter URL → Click "Clear cache"

Twitter

• Cache duration: 7 days
• Clear cache tool: Twitter Card Validator
• How to clear: Re-validate URL in validator

Slack & Discord

• Cache duration: 24-48 hours
• Clear cache tool: None (no official tool)
• How to clear: Wait for expiration or use query parameters

How to Fix: Force Cache Refresh

Here are several methods to force platforms to update your Open Graph images:

Method 1: Use Platform Debuggers (Recommended)

The most reliable way to clear cache is using platform-specific debugger tools:

Facebook

1. Go to Facebook Sharing Debugger
2. Enter your URL
3. Click "Scrape Again"
4. Wait a few minutes for cache to clear
5. Test by sharing the URL again

LinkedIn

1. Go to LinkedIn Post Inspector
2. Enter your URL
3. Click "Inspect"
4. Click "Clear cache"
5. Wait a few minutes and test again

Twitter

1. Go to Twitter Card Validator
2. Enter your URL
3. Click "Preview card"
4. Re-validate to refresh cache

Method 2: Add Query Parameters

Adding query parameters creates a "new" URL that bypasses cache:

Original: https://example.com/page
New: https://example.com/page?v=2
Or: https://example.com/page?updated=2025-12-16

Note: This creates a new URL, so you'll need to share the new URL. The old URL will still show cached content.

Method 3: Wait for Natural Expiration

If you don't need immediate updates, you can wait for cache to expire naturally:

• Facebook: 7-30 days
• LinkedIn: 7-14 days
• Twitter: 7 days
• Slack/Discord: 24-48 hours

Method 4: Change Image Filename

If you change the image filename, platforms treat it as a new image:

Old: https://example.com/og-image.jpg
New: https://example.com/og-image-v2.jpg

Update your og:image tag to point to the new filename.

Preventing Cache Issues

While you can't prevent caching entirely, you can minimize issues:

1. Test Before Publishing

• Use our Open Graph Preview Tool to test tags
• Verify images load correctly
• Check all required tags are present
• Test with platform validators before sharing

2. Use Versioned Image URLs

For frequently updated content, use versioned image URLs:

<meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/og-image-v2.jpg" />

This makes it easier to update images without cache issues.

3. Plan Updates in Advance

If you know you'll be updating OG images, plan ahead:

• Update tags before sharing
• Clear caches immediately after updating
• Allow time for cache propagation

Other Causes of Images Not Updating

While caching is the most common cause, other issues can prevent images from updating:

1. Image URL Not Changed

If you're using the same image URL, platforms may not detect the change:

• Use a new filename or query parameter
• Upload to a new location
• Change the image URL in your og:image tag

2. Server-Side Caching

Your own server or CDN may be caching the old image:

• Check CDN cache settings
• Clear server-side cache
• Verify image URL loads the new image

3. Browser Cache

Your browser may be showing a cached version:

• Clear browser cache
• Use incognito/private mode
• Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R)

4. Tags Not Actually Updated

Verify your tags are actually updated:

• View page source to verify tags
• Check tags aren't injected by JavaScript
• Use our preview tool to verify detected tags

How to Verify Images Updated

After clearing cache, verify your images updated:

1. Use platform debuggers: Check the preview in Facebook Debugger, LinkedIn Inspector, etc.
2. Share a test post: Share the URL in a private post to see the preview
3. Use our preview tool: Test with our Open Graph Preview Tool
4. Check image URL directly: Open the image URL in a browser to verify it's the new image

Troubleshooting Checklist

Use this checklist when images aren't updating:

• ✅ Cleared platform cache using debugger tools
• ✅ Waited 5-10 minutes after clearing cache
• ✅ Verified image URL loads the new image in browser
• ✅ Checked og:image tag points to correct URL
• ✅ Verified tags are in HTML source (not JavaScript)
• ✅ Tested with platform validators
• ✅ Cleared browser cache
• ✅ Checked CDN/server cache settings
• ✅ Used new image filename or query parameter

Related Resources

• Open Graph Debugging Guide
• How to Refresh Open Graph Cache
• OG Image Size Guide
• What is Open Graph?