Customizing Image Compression in WordPress: The Ultimate Guide
Do you want to fine-tune the image compression settings in WordPress? By default, WordPress automatically compresses images to improve performance, but this can sometimes result in a slight reduction in quality. In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how to easily increase or decrease JPEG image compression in WordPress, giving you full control over the image quality on your website.
Modifying JPEG Image Compression in WordPress
When you upload a JPEG image to your WordPress site, it is automatically compressed at a 90% quality level. In WordPress version 4.5 and newer, this compression rate was further decreased to 82% in order to optimize site performance for mobile users. While this level of compression may be sufficient for most websites, photographers and artists who want to showcase high-quality images on their sites may prefer to disable image compression in WordPress.
If you prefer visual instructions, we have prepared a comprehensive video tutorial on how to change image compression in WordPress. You can access the tutorial below:
If you prefer written instructions, follow this step-by-step guide on changing JPEG image compression in WordPress:
Manually open your theme’s functions.php file or use a trusted code snippet plugin like WPCode (recommended).
Insert the following code snippet into your functions.php file:
function my_custom_jpeg_quality($quality) {
return 100;
}
add_filter('jpeg_quality', 'my_custom_jpeg_quality');
By setting the value to 100, WordPress will compress images at the highest quality. However, keep in mind that this option may result in larger file sizes and slower page load times.
If you are not a photographer or artist, you may not notice a significant difference in image quality by adjusting the compression rate. In fact, sticking to the default compression quality can provide performance benefits for your website. However, if you still want to optimize further, you can change the number from 100 to a lower value, such as 80, using the following code snippet:
function my_custom_jpeg_quality($quality) {
return 80;
}
add_filter('jpeg_quality', 'my_custom_jpeg_quality');
Regenerating Thumbnails
After making changes to the image quality, it is important to regenerate your thumbnails in order to apply the new compression settings consistently. This ensures that all images on your website are compressed according to your desired quality.
We hope that this comprehensive guide has equipped you with the knowledge to customize JPEG image compression in WordPress. For more helpful WordPress tutorials and tips, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date with the latest information by following us on Twitter and Facebook. If you want to create a contact form or enhance your Instagram presence on your WordPress site, be sure to check out our related guides.
