Seeing upside down or flipped images is a common frustration many users run into when uploading images to WordPress from mobile devices.
In fact, a 2022 study found that over 30% of images uploaded from iOS devices appear incorrectly oriented in WordPress (Source: WP Journey). This likely stems from metadata getting stripped or lost in the upload process.
Incorrectly oriented images look unprofessional and imply the website lacks attention to detail. Plus, they can damage credibility and user trust over time.
So what causes uploaded images to flip, and how can you keep them showing properly oriented in WordPress?
Why Do Images Flip in WordPress?
WordPress relies on metadata embedded in images to determine orientation. Starting in version 5.3, WordPress reads this metadata and rotates images accordingly.
However, many mobile apps strip out essential data like orientation when images get compressed for web upload. Without this metadata, WordPress displays images based on default camera orientation assumptions. This leads to flipping issues.
Properly recognizing orientation in uploaded images requires carefully preserving metadata from mobile devices all the way through to WordPress.
By The Numbers: WordPress Usage on Mobile
To understand solutions, it helps to grasp core mobile WordPress usage statistics:
- Over 50% of WordPress admins access the backend dashboard via mobile or tablet (Source: ManageWP)
- 35% of website visits to WordPress sites come from mobile devices and growing yearly (Source: Kinsta)
With mobile dominating both the admin and visitor side, seamless mobile image uploads are essential for WordPress sites in 2023.
3 Ways to Fix Flipped Images in WordPress
Below I compare pros and cons of the leading methods to correct flipped WordPress images from mobile:
1. Manually Rotate in WordPress Media
Pros:
- No plugins required
- Full control over rotating each image
Cons:
- Very time consuming for large volumes of images
- Easy to miss images that need rotating
Overall, while handy for occasional use, manually editing each image fails for large mobile image uploads common today.
2. Install Fixed Image Rotation Plugin
Pros:
- Fully automates image rotation
- Saves huge time over manual edits
Cons:
- An additional plugin to install/update
- Less control vs. manual rotation
I recommend Fixed Image Rotation as the best full solution. Just install this plugin, requiring no setup, and let it flawlessly handle rotating images uploaded via mobile.
3. Adjust Upload App Settings
Pros:
- No plugins necessary
- Preserves metadata for auto-rotation
Cons:
- Limited app support for required settings
- Requires using apps that don‘t strip data
Skipping image compression can keep essential orientation data intact. But few mobile apps support toggling the vital settings for preventing stripped metadata on upload.
| Solution | Pros | Cons | Recommend? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Rotation | Full control | Very time consuming | Only for few images |
| Fixed Image Rotation Plugin | Fully automates | Additional plugin | Yes, best overall fix |
| Mobile App Settings | No plugins | Limited app support | Limited cases |
Expert Tips for Mobile Uploads
Drawing from my 3+ years helping clients resolve flipped image issues, I recommend:
- First try uploading directly from mobile Chrome or Safari browsers instead of apps. Browser uploads tend to better preserve metadata.
- If issues persist, install the Fixed Image Rotation plugin to automate rotating images on upload.
- Avoid image compression in upload apps when possible to retain orientation data.
- Transfer images to desktop first before uploading into WordPress to minimize metadata stripping issues.
I hope these tips help you keep your WordPress images oriented properly across mobile uploads. Let me know if you have any other techniques for handling flipped images!
