Skip to content

Image Reload

Reloads every image data-block in the current .blend from its source file on disk. Useful after textures have been edited externally (Photoshop, Substance, etc.) so the viewport, shaders, and UV/Image editors pick up the new pixels without manually clicking Reload per image.

bl_idname: iops.reload_images Mode: Any Context: Any Modal: no HUD: no

Overview

Blender's built-in Image > Reload only acts on one image at a time from the Image Editor. This operator iterates bpy.data.images and calls image.reload() on each, reporting a per-image INFO message. Use it after a batch external edit to refresh all textures in one shot.

Usage

  • Poll requires bpy.data.images to be non-empty (at least one image data-block present).
  • No default keymap binding. Invoke via F3 search ("Reload Images") or wire it into a menu/pie of your choice.
  • Each reloaded image emits an INFO report (Image '<name>' reloaded.) visible in the Info editor / status bar.

Notes

  • No filtering by selection, dirty state, or file existence — every image data-block is touched, including packed images and ones with missing source paths. Blender's own Image.reload() handles those internally.
  • The operator does not declare REGISTER/UNDO in bl_options; reloads read from disk and are not undoable regardless.
  • Despite the previous documentation claim, this operator does not walk material node trees or "validate paths" — it just calls reload() on every image.
  • (no sibling operators in this module)