Why isn't the "get image from search index" feature working on my Webflow search results page?
TL;DR
- Ensure CMS items use native Image fields (not background or embedded images) and are marked for search indexing.
- Reindex the site in Site Settings, bind the image in the Search Results Page to “Get image from Search index,” and re-publish the site for changes to take effect.
If the “Get image from search index” feature isn’t working on your Webflow search results page, there are a few common issues that may be causing it. Here's how to troubleshoot and resolve them.
1. Ensure the Image Is Indexable in the Collection
- Go to the CMS Collection connected to your search results.
- Make sure there's an Image field in the Collection and that it’s populated for each item.
- In the individual Collection items, confirm that the image is marked for search indexing:
- Webflow indexes plain images, not background images or images placed through custom code.
- Only the first image in a Rich Text field will be indexed.
2. Reindex Your Site Search
- Webflow may still be using an outdated index that lacks the image data.
- Manually force a reindex:
- Go to Site Settings > Search > Reindex Site.
- Wait for confirmation that reindexing is complete (this can take a few minutes).
3. Use the Correct Search Result Bindings
- In your Search Results Page, locate the Image element within the result item.
- Click the image and in the right-hand panel:
- Set Get image from Search index under the Image settings.
- If this option is greyed out or unavailable, it usually means no image field was indexed.
4. Avoid Background Images and Dynamic Embeds
- Webflow search index cannot extract images set as:
- CSS background images.
- Images inserted via Embed elements or custom code.
- Use a native Image element in the CMS for indexing to work as expected.
5. Check for API or CMS Limitations
- Webflow’s Search indexing is limited to 100 fields per Collection item and prioritizes basic fields (text, images, slugs, etc.).
- If you’re using a third-party solution or custom search, these may not support the "Get image from search index" feature.
6. Publish After Changes
- After making any adjustments to the Collection or search settings, re-publish your site.
- Changes to search indexing only apply to published sites, not in preview mode.
Summary
The “Get image from search index” feature won’t work if the image isn’t directly indexed from a CMS Image field, the site hasn’t been reindexed, or if the layout uses unsupported elements like background images. Use native Image fields in the CMS, reindex your search, and re-publish for the search results to display images correctly.