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You can find an image through Openverse in WordPress when your theme exposes it in the block editor’s Media tab, or add an image you have already found with the Image block. Before publishing, check the license on that specific image, keep any required credit, and add suitable alt text or mark the image decorative when appropriate.
Find an image with Openverse in the WordPress editor
- Open the post or page in the block editor and select the + inserter.
- Open the Media tab and look for Openverse. Its availability depends on theme support; if the option is missing, it is not available in your current setup. WordPress’s Image block documentation describes this condition.
- Search for the subject or concept your content needs, then select a suitable result. WordPress says an image selected through the Openverse integration is saved to your Media Library.
Openverse is a way to discover images, not a substitute for checking their individual terms. Open the result’s source and license details before using it. A Creative Commons label by itself does not tell you whether attribution is required or whether other conditions apply.
Check the image’s license before publishing
Confirm the license attached to the particular image and follow its conditions. For example, the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 deed allows sharing and adaptation, including commercial use, provided you give appropriate credit, link to the license, and indicate whether you made changes. The deed also notes that other rights, such as privacy, publicity, or moral rights, may affect a planned use.
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A Learn WordPress lesson describes its Openverse inserter integration as including CC0 works that do not require attribution. That description applies to the integration covered by the lesson; it does not mean every Openverse result is CC0 or that every Creative Commons image can be used without credit. Check each listing’s license and source information.
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Insert an image with the Image block
WordPress’s Image block supports several ways to add an image. Select the + inserter and choose Image, or type /image in the editor. You can then choose among these options:
- Upload: Add an image file from your device.
- Media Library: Select an image already saved in your WordPress library, including one added through the Openverse integration.
- Insert from URL: Paste the image’s web address.
- Drag and drop: Drop an image into the editor to add it.
The Image block guide documents these options and the URL workflow: WordPress Image block.
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Choose between Openverse and an image URL
| Method | What happens | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Openverse in the editor | Search from the Media tab when your theme supports the option; WordPress saves the selected image to the Media Library. | The option may not appear in every setup. Check the specific image’s source and license. |
| Insert from URL | Paste an image address into the Image block. | The image may stop displaying if the remote file is moved, deleted, or no longer shared. WordPress also notes that this option may not work on every website. Use an image only when you have permission. |
If you inserted an image from a URL and want to avoid relying on the remote file, WordPress provides an upload-to-Media-Library action in the block toolbar. Use it only when you have permission to use the image. The Image block guide explains the URL insertion and upload workflow.
Add alt text, captions, and required credit
Alt text and captions serve different purposes. Alt text conveys relevant information or function to people who may not see the image. If the image adds no meaningful information or functionality, WordPress lets you mark it as decorative instead. A caption is visible text beneath or alongside the image; it can carry attribution when the license requires credit.
Before removing a caption or other visible credit, check the image’s license and make sure any required attribution remains. WordPress documents captions, alt text, and the decorative-image setting in its Image block guide.
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- Write alt text that communicates the image’s relevant information or function, rather than simply repeating nearby text.
- Use the decorative setting only when the image adds no meaningful information or functionality.
- Keep required credit visible and complete, including a license link or change indication when the license calls for them.
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