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Fix SharePoint Markdown Web Part Not Supporting Relative Image URLs
Question details
Users are unable to display images in the SharePoint Markdown Web Part when using relative file paths.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding images stored in the Site Assets folder to a SharePoint page via the Markdown Web Part.
- Observed behavior
- Images fail to load and display as broken links when referenced with a relative path (e.g., siteassets/sitepages/image.png), despite having correct folder permissions. The images only render when the full absolute URL is used.
Verify that your image file is fully uploaded to the SharePoint Site Assets folder and that you have basic editing permissions for the SharePoint page. If you plan to submit a support ticket, you will need assistance from your Microsoft 365 administrator.
Use Absolute URLs for Markdown Images
Since the Markdown Web Part currently struggles with relative path resolution, replacing relative paths with the complete SharePoint image URL ensures images render correctly.
This is the fastest and most reliable workaround for rendering images in the Markdown Web Part without waiting for backend platform fixes.
Navigate to the Site Assets folder (or whichever document library you use) where your image is currently stored.
Click the three dots (ellipses) next to the image file, select 'Copy link', and ensure you are copying the direct, full URL to the file rather than a shortened sharing link.
Go to the SharePoint page where your Markdown Web Part is located and click the 'Edit' button in the top right corner.
Click the 'Edit web part' pencil icon on the Markdown Web Part. Change the image path to use the copied full URL (e.g., ).
Click 'Republish' to apply the changes and verify that the image now displays properly to all site visitors.
Contact Microsoft 365 Support with HAR Logs
If relative URLs previously worked on your tenant and suddenly broke, you should escalate the issue to the Microsoft SharePoint product team for investigation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a relative URL in SharePoint?
A relative URL specifies the path to a file in relation to the current site or directory structure (e.g., /SiteAssets/image.png), omitting the main tenant domain name (https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com). This is usually preferred for site migrations but isn't always supported by specific web parts.
Why did relative URLs stop working in the Markdown Web Part?
Microsoft frequently rolls out updates to SharePoint Online. Occasionally, these backend updates can disrupt how specific components, like the Markdown Web Part, parse and resolve local site paths, leading to broken images.
Can I use relative links in other SharePoint web parts?
Yes, native features like the Image Web Part, Quick Links, or the Text Web Part are natively designed to handle relative paths effectively and rarely experience the same path-resolution issues found in the Markdown Web Part.
What is a HAR log and why does Microsoft need it?
A HAR (HTTP Archive) log is a recording of your web browser's interaction with the site. Microsoft support requires it to see exactly where the network request for the relative image fails on the backend servers.
