Incorporating social media icons into your WordPress website is essential if you want to interact with users on the major social media platforms. Placing these social media icons encourages visitors to spread the word about your content on other social media networks. However, finding where the social media logos are stored in WordPress can sometimes be confusing, especially for new users.
Depending on your WordPress theme, plugins and custom settings, these icons can be placed in different areas and configured in various ways. Knowing where these social media logos are located will allow you to effectively manage and personalize them to align with your brand’s identity. Customizing social media icons will also enhance user engagement and strengthen your brand’s visibility.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through the process of locating social media icons in WordPress, whether through plugins, the media library or themes. We’ll also discuss troubleshooting common issues.
Where are the social media icons stored in WordPress?
The location of social media icons largely depends on how your WordPress site is set up. They could be integrated via plugins, custom code or even directly through the WordPress Block Editor or theme settings. Here’s an overview of where to find them:
Plugins
Many WordPress sites use plugins to manage and display social media icons. Plugins like Social Icons Widget, Simple Social Icons or others can store the logos in their settings panel, making it easy to add and manage them from your WordPress dashboard.
WordPress media library
If you’ve uploaded custom social media icons, these logos will be stored in the WordPress Media Library. This method allows for more flexibility in adding unique icons or replacing default icons with custom designs.
Themes
Depending on your WordPress theme, social media icons might be a built-in feature. Some WordPress themes come with social icon blocks or widgets that automatically display icons from major social platforms.
Finding social media logos in plugins
One of the most common methods for including social media symbols on a WordPress website is using plugins. You may customize the symbols in many free plugins to link them to your social network accounts. Ready-made icons for popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be accessed by using plugins like Social Icons Widget or AddToAny Share Buttons.
Steps to install the plugin:
- From your WordPress Dashboard, navigate to the Plugins tab and click Add New Plugin.
- Use the search bar to look for plugins like Social Icons or Social Media Links.
- You are free to choose and install the plugin of your choice. The plugin can be activated after installation.
- After activation, go to the settings panel for the plugin to configure the icons and social media profiles.
- You can add these icons to your widget area or WordPress menu by using the plugin’s settings.
Popular plugins allow you to select icons for major social networks and adjust their appearance using the block settings or widget areas.
If you’re already using a plugin to manage your social media icons, the logos are typically stored within the plugin settings. Here’s how to find them:
Navigate to the plugin settings
- Browse towards the plugin that manages your social networking icons from the WordPress dashboard’s left-hand menu.
- You may find it listed in the “Plugins” section or under “Appearance” > “Widgets.”
Adjust the social icons block
- Inside the plugin’s settings panel, you’ll find the option to add social media accounts, customize icons or adjust the display.
- Additionally, you may include links to your social media profiles, making sure that they open in a separate browser tab on your device.
Customize icons (optional)
- If the plugin supports it, you can often change the icon style (e.g., pill shape, square, etc.) or upload new icons for a more personalized look.
Using the WordPress media library for social media logos
If you want custom social media icons, you can upload them directly into the WordPress Media Library. Here’s how to do this:
- Select the Media tab on the left-hand side of your WordPress dashboard.
- To upload your unique custom media icons to WordPress, tap Add New Media File (ensure they fit the dimensions and design of your website).
- Once uploaded, you can place social media icons anywhere on your website using the Site Editor or Custom HTML code.
- Link each icon to the appropriate social media platform by adding your social media profile URLs in the custom link field.
Custom social media icons are stored in the WordPress media library. This is especially common if you’ve manually uploaded the logos yourself. Here’s how to locate these logos:
Open the media library
From the WordPress dashboard, select “Media” in the left-hand menu. Here, you’ll find all the images and logos that have been uploaded to your site.
Search for the icons
Use the search bar at the top of the media library to quickly find your social media logos by typing in relevant keywords like “social icons” or “social media logos.”
Assign social links
Once you’ve found the logos, you can use them to link to your social media page or profile via widgets or directly within a post or page using custom HTML or block settings.
You can add these logos to your site by navigating to the site editor or block themes, depending on your theme.
How to locate social media logos in themes
Social media icons are often integrated into WordPress themes, particularly in modern block themes. WordPress social icons can often be located in the menu settings or block settings if your theme supports this functionality. Some WordPress themes also come pre-loaded with social media icons.
- In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance and choose Menus.
- Check if your theme includes a Social Menu option. This will allow you to link icons directly to your social media pages.
- Some themes also offer social sharing icons that can be enabled in the Theme Customizer or Block Editor.
- If your theme does not support social icons, you can add them manually using Custom CSS or a plugin.
The icons might be found within a widget area like the footer or header for classic themes. You might need to add social icons block to display the logos in block themes.
Troubleshooting: What do you do if you can’t find the social media logos?
If you’re having trouble locating your social media icons in WordPress, here are a few troubleshooting steps:
- Check for missing plugins: Make sure the plugin responsible for adding social media icons is still active. Reactivate it through the “Plugins” menu if it was accidentally deactivated.
- Theme compatibility: Some themes may not support social icons by default. If you’re using a block theme or classic theme that doesn’t include social media features, you might need to add a plugin or custom HTML code.
- Check your theme documentation: Not all themes come with built-in social icons. Review your theme’s documentation for guidance.
- Look in the widget area: If you’re using a widget to display social media icons, head to “Appearance” > “Widgets” and confirm the social media widget is active. You can also add new icons from here if needed.
- Install a social icons plugin: If your theme lacks social media icons, installing a free plugin is the quickest solution.
- Clear cache: Sometimes, caching issues can prevent changes from appearing on your site. Clearing your cache or using a plugin like W3 Total Cache can resolve this.
- Use custom icons: You can always upload custom icons to your WordPress Media Library and add them manually.
Final thoughts on social media logos stored in WordPress
Finding and adding social media icons to your WordPress website is simple once you know where to look. Whether using the Media Library, plugins or theme settings, accessing and editing your WordPress social media icons ensures your website remains connected with your audience across various social media platforms. If you’re struggling to find or customize these icons, the steps outlined above will help you set them up successfully.
For users of Bluehost and other hosting providers, adding social icons can be done effortlessly through the WordPress Dashboard with minimal technical know-how. Take advantage of the available plugins or upload your own custom icons to make your website more engaging for visitors.
FAQs on where are the social media logos stored in WordPress site
Themes usually store social media logos in the header, footer or menu areas, accessible through the Theme Customizer.
You can upload custom social media logos via the WordPress Media Library and add them to your site using custom HTML or widgets.
You can change default icons by editing your theme’s customizer settings or by uploading custom icons to the media library.
The most common and recommended formats for social media logos are .PNG and .SVG for high quality and scalability.
You can remove a social media icon by navigating to the Theme Customizer or Menu settings and deleting the social links or widgets.
You may add social media symbols to your header and sidebar using a widget like Simple Social Icons or custom HTML containing links to your social media profiles.