# Why aren't my CSS background images being displayed?

> Background image paths need system-asset tags and the Rewrite asset links in file option so Cascade can resolve them to managed assets.

URL: https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/developing-in-cascade/css/css-background-images-not-displayed.html
category: Developing in Cascade
article-type: troubleshooting
content-kind: faq
release-availability: all
tags: design, files
updated: 2026-10-06

CSS background images need special tags telling the system you're referring to an image managed by Cascade CMS. Consider these lines in a CSS file:

```css
.content{
    background-image: url('/images/photo.png');
}
```

To link to that image from a CSS file inside Cascade:

1. Click **Edit** on the CSS file containing the reference.
1.  Add `[​system-asset]` and `[/​system-asset]` tags around the *full path* to the image's location inside Cascade CMS:
    ```css
    .content{
        background-image: url('[​system-asset]/images/photo.png[/​system-asset]');
    }
    ```

1. Click the **Configure** pane.
1. Check **Rewrite asset links in file**. This makes the system locate anything within those tags and rewrite the link.
1. Click **Save & Preview**.
1. After verifying your changes, click **Submit**.

Assuming the system locates the image, the rewritten link looks something like:

```css
background-image: url('/renderfile/4ed63b960a00018a0141055a46b50931/images/photo.png');
```

See [Linking](https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/content-authoring/linking.html) for how asset links are resolved generally.