Image Upload Optimizer Documentation

Use WordPress 6.0 or newer, PHP 7.4 or newer, and a server whose WordPress image editor can write WebP files. Before bulk conversion or media deletion, create both a database backup and an uploads backup.

After activation, open Media > Optimization Settings. The plugin reports whether WebP output is supported by the active server.

1. Set Maximum image dimension for the longest edge.
2. Set WebP quality from 50 to 100.
3. Choose whether to delete a source JPG or PNG after verified WebP conversion. This setting is irreversible for future uploads.
4. Set the maximum upload size in MB and maximum decoded resolution in MP.
5. Select Save Changes.

1. Open the Optimize Existing Images tab.
2. Select Scan for unoptimized images.
3. Use the File size heading to switch between largest-first and smallest-first ordering.
4. Review the proposed width for each attachment.
5. Convert one item with Compress to WebP, or select multiple rows, set Selected max width, and choose Compress selected to WebP.

Animated GIFs, SVGs, PDFs, and existing WebP files are intentionally excluded from this scan.

1. Open Remove Unused Media.
2. Select Scan Media Library.
3. Review every candidate and check the public site before deletion.
4. Delete only attachments you understand and can restore from backup.

The scan searches common WordPress and builder storage, including Cornerstone/Pro attachment references. It remains deliberately conservative, but it cannot prove that every custom or hard-coded reference is unused.

The scan that produces the review list is a snapshot. Content, metadata, widgets, generated CSS, or theme settings can change before you press delete. The plugin therefore rescans each selected attachment immediately before removal. This second check is intentional: it prevents deletion when a reference has appeared since the original results were generated.

A scan stops or reports an invalid response: retry after confirming PHP has enough memory for the site. Version 1.0.4 limits recursive inspection of deeply nested values and reports non-JSON server responses more clearly.

An image is not listed for optimisation: confirm it is a JPEG or PNG Media Library attachment and has not already been converted to WebP.

WebP is unavailable: ask the host to enable WebP support in the PHP image library used by WordPress.

When Media Trash is disabled, unused-media deletion is permanent and removes the attachment file plus WordPress-generated sizes. Restore deleted media from the uploads and database backups taken before the scan, then clear relevant caches and verify every affected page.

Bulk WebP conversion changes attachment metadata and generated sizes. Keep the pre-conversion backup until the site has been checked on desktop and mobile.