Swift let imageURLStr = "https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/3345765?v=3&s=460" //Image url dispatch_async(dispatch_get_global_queue(DISPATCH_QUEUE_PRIORITY_DEFAULT, 0)) { let imageURL = NSURL(string: imageURLStr) let data:NSData? = NSData(contentsOfURL: imageURL!) dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), { if data == nil { cell.itemImage.setImage(UIImage(named: "NoImageFound.png"), forState: UIControlState.Normal) } else { cell.itemImage.setImage(UIImage(data:data!), forState: UIControlState.Normal) } }); } References: SO answer Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.