About this plugin
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Media Optimizer generates WebP and AVIF sidecars locally, tests modern image delivery, and can optimize original JPEG and PNG uploads with mandatory backups. It uses the active WordPress image editor and optional server binaries instead of sending media to a paid optimization API.
The default workflow is conservative: sidecars are generated without replacing original files or changing frontend image URLs. Original-file optimization and HTML delivery remain opt-in.
Modern image workflow
- Generate WebP sidecars for original uploads and WordPress image sizes.
- Generate AVIF sidecars when the active image editor or avifenc supports AVIF.
- Set WebP and AVIF quality independently, with optional engine-dependent PNG and Imagick AVIF profiles.
- Optionally deliver AVIF first, WebP second, and retain JPEG/PNG as the fallback.
- Use Delivery Assistant to test direct sidecar access and server or CDN rewrite behavior.
- Review coverage, storage impact, estimated savings, and failed processing from the dashboard and Media Library.
- Process larger libraries through resumable browser queues and WP-CLI commands.
Optional original optimization
- Resize oversized uploads with configurable maximum dimensions.
- Choose lossless, balanced, aggressive, or custom JPEG quality settings.
- Remove or preserve supported private metadata while retaining supported source color profiles; engine and format limitations apply.
- Require a local backup before replacing an original JPEG or PNG file.
- Restore individual or multiple backed-up originals, including the Restore optimized originals action in the Media Library list-view bulk menu.
- Clean generated sidecars without deleting original uploads.
Optional Thumbnail Manager companion
Use the Thumbnail Manager tab to review the free companion and its installation or compatibility state. Thumbnail Manager manages which thumbnail sizes WordPress generates, checks and repairs selected thumbnails, and offers review-first Prune cleanup. The introduction links to native WordPress install or plugin-management screens; it starts no processing.
With compatible versions active, open a completed Thumbnail Manager Repair or Force regeneration result to preview its exact successful generated files in Media Optimizer. Start the WebP/AVIF step explicitly. After Prune, a separate preview and approval can clean up eligible sidecars with recorded Optimizer ownership.
Original files and unrelated sizes stay outside these handoffs. Both plugins retain their standalone workflows.
Local processing and server tools
The plugin uses WordPress, GD, or Imagick where supported. It can also detect optional server binaries including cwebp, avifenc, jpegoptim, jpegtran, pngquant, oxipng, and optipng. These tools are not bundled or required.
htaccess, CDN settings, or server configuration. Use Delivery Assistant before enabling frontend delivery on a production site.
Privacy
Media Optimizer does not collect personal data, create tracking cookies, or send media files to external optimization services.
Delivery Assistant makes HTTP HEAD requests to URLs on the same WordPress site to check whether generated AVIF or WebP files are reachable.