Adding an image

Ways to add images to your Wikipedia page.

Add a Wikimedia Commons image to a Wikipedia article

Before you begin, make sure you are logged in to your Wikipedia account and have the article you want to edit open.

  1. Select Edit and ensure you are using the Visual Editor.
  2. Place your cursor where you would like the image to appear.
  3. Select Insert → Images and media.
  4. Search Wikimedia Commons using relevant keywords (for example, Old College, University of Edinburgh).
  5. Select the image you want and click Use this image.
  6. Add:
    • A descriptive caption
    • Alternative text to improve accessibility
  7. Select Insert.
  8. Resize or reposition the image if needed.
  9. When you are finished, select Publish changes and include a brief edit summary (for example, Added image).

Before you begin, make sure you are logged in with your Wikipedia account (the same account works for Wikimedia Commons) and have an image that you took yourself or are otherwise permitted to upload.

Please note: Wikimedia Commons only accepts freely licensed content. Before uploading or reusing an image, make sure it complies with the Wikimedia Commons licensing policy.

  1. Go to the Wikimedia Commons homepage.
  2. Select Upload file from the left-hand menu.
  3. Read the guidance on what can be uploaded. If you are familiar with the process, you can select Skip this step in the future, then click Next.
  4. Select Select media files to share and choose your image(s).
  5. Click Continue.
  6. Complete the copyright declaration.
  7. Add the image details, including:
    • Title
    • Description
    • Caption (optional)
    • Date
    • Categories
  8. Add any relevant metadata if prompted.
  9. Select Publish files (or Publish data for all files if uploading multiple images).

Your image is now available on Wikimedia Commons and can be used across all Wikimedia projects, including Wikipedia.

Further guidance

© Ewan McAndrew and Hannah Rothmann, University of Edinburgh, 2020, CC BY-SA 4.0, unless otherwise indicated.

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