Image not showing up in README.md on GitHub

Question

I am trying to add an image to the README.md in my repository using markdown below:

![ScreenShot](https://github.com/i-saumitra/Voice-controlled-MP3-Player/blob/master/screenshot.jpg)

But the image is not showing when I visit my repository. Instead the link to the image is showing up. Clicking the link will open the image in new window.

I have also tried using relative path:

![ScreenShot](screenshot.jpg)

But this is giving page not found error.

What is the correct markdown to display image in README.md

Both README.md and image file are in same path/directory.

What is the correct way to display an image in github README.md?

Complete content of README.md file is as below:

Voice-controlled-MP3-Player
===========================

A MP3 player which accept voice command like PLAY, PAUSE, FORWARD, etc. Using C# and Microsoft Speech API.

![ScreenShot](https://github.com/i-saumitra/Voice-controlled-MP3-Player/blob/master/screenshot.jpg)

Answer 1

Updated content

Since January, 30th 2013, GitHub now supports relative links in markup documents.

This means that your code ![ScreenShot](screenshot.jpg) would now work flawlessly.

As pointed by @Brad, this may also ease a scenario where the images are different in two branches, but bear the same. In that case, switching from one branch to another, would dynamically switch the image in the rendered view, thus without requiring any change to the Readme content.

• Blog post announcement
• Help article

Previous answer when GitHub wasn't supporting relative links

You have to use the raw url format. In your case that would be https://raw.githubusercontent.com/i-saumitra/Voice-controlled-MP3-Player/master/screenshot.jpg

This means that the correct markdown would be the following

![ScreenShot](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/i-saumitra/Voice-controlled-MP3-Player/master/screenshot.jpg)

Using this in a .mdfile on github will display the following picture ;-)

Update following your comment

where is this officialy documented that we have to use raw...i couldn't find it anywhere

This URL format is an undocumented feature of the GitHub site. This means that it could change later. If that ever happens, in order to "rediscover" the new format, click the Raw button when displaying a image. This will "open" the image in your browser. Copy the URL and Voilà!

Note: Although the repository is no longer on hosted on GitHub, I've updated the urls to reflect the new GitHub policy regarding user content

Answer 2

You really should use relative urls. That way they'll work better for private repos as well.

![ScreenShot](/screenshots/latest.png)

supposing your repo has latest.png inside the screenshots folder.

~B

Answer 3

Side note, when using reStructuredText use:

.. image:: /screenshots/latest.png?raw=true

Answer 4

This may not be relevant to previous answers. I have the same question as the OP - I was directed here and it didnt help me. I hope I can help add light to this question however - as it covers the possibilities of why images does not render in README.md file.

The issue I encountered is that the file name README.md file is written as readME

Not only its missing .md its also written differently.

Apparently, we should not rename the README.md file. It has to be the original name of that file in order to render the images or gifs you want to upload on github README.md page. Hope this helps someone, in rare of occasions, just like I did.

Answer 5

For relative URL's to work with images, wrap it inside the paragraph tag.

I was facing the problem, especially when working with the single image.

Example:

<p>
    <img src="relativePath/file.png" width="220" height="240" />
</p>