Hi there, @dumel,
There might be a potential database problem, which is a bit out of scope, but I can try stretching my knowledge to see if I can help.
The clues pointing towards the potential database issue are the visibility of images at the front end and the physical presence of files in the folders. At the same time, an empty Media Library suggests that the entries in the database for these attachments might have disappeared.
Here’s what I’d suggest following:
1. **Check the wp_posts and wp_postmeta tables**: WordPress makes entries in these tables when you upload a media file. If the entries are not there then that might be the reason behind this issue. If you’re comfortable making direct changes to your database, you might want to try looking at these tables to see if the images are present.
2. **Check pathway settings**: If the images are present in the database as well, then there might be a problem with the path settings for the Media Library. If the path to your wp_content/uploads directory is incorrect, WordPress would not be able to display the images.
3. **Use a Media Library Fix Plugin**: It’s possible that you might find a plugin that specifically addresses this issue. Media Library Folders for WordPress or similar plugins might help to fix this.
4. **Import the Images**: If none of these solutions work, you might consider importing the images. There is a WordPress function called ‘fetch’ that allows you to add an image to the Media Library from a URL.
And finally, if your website has a large number of images, the Regenerate Thumbnails operation might take a while. It might be a good idea to take a backup of your website before performing the operation.
Hope that helps!
