How To Stop WordPress From Compressing Images

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If you’re using WordPress as your content management system, you may have noticed that your uploaded images are automatically compressed. While this feature is great for optimizing your website’s loading time and reducing bandwidth usage, it can sometimes result in lower-quality images. Fear not, though – in this blog post, we’ll show you how to stop WordPress from compressing your images so you can maintain the original quality of your visuals.

Method 1: Disabling Image Compression using the ‘functions.php’ File

One way to stop WordPress from compressing your images is by adding a specific code snippet to your theme’s ‘functions.php’ file. Follow the steps below:

  1. Access your WordPress site’s file directory using an FTP client or your web host’s File Manager.
  2. Navigate to the ‘wp-content/themes/your-theme’ folder, where ‘your-theme’ is the folder of your currently active theme.
  3. Open the ‘functions.php’ file for editing. If it doesn’t exist, create a new file with the same name.
  4. Add the following code snippet to your ‘functions.php’ file:
    add_filter('jpeg_quality', function($arg){return 100;});
    add_filter('wp_editor_set_quality', function($arg){return 100;});

This code tells WordPress to set the JPEG image quality to 100 (the maximum value, indicating no compression).

  1. Save your changes and close the ‘functions.php’ file.
  2. Now, when you upload new images to your WordPress site, they will not be compressed.

Note: Keep in mind that this method only applies to new uploads, and does not affect images that have already been uploaded and compressed.

Method 2: Using a Plugin to Disable Image Compression

If you prefer not to edit your theme’s files directly, you can also use a plugin to stop WordPress from compressing your images. Here’s how:

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to ‘Plugins > Add New’.
  2. Search for a plugin that disables image compression, such as ‘Disable JPEG Compression‘ or ‘Imagify‘.
  3. Install and activate the plugin of your choice.
  4. Configure the plugin settings, if necessary. For example, with Imagify, you can set the image compression level to ‘Original’ to prevent any compression.

That’s it! With a plugin installed and configured, your newly uploaded images will no longer be compressed by WordPress.

Conclusion

As you can see, stopping WordPress from compressing your images is relatively easy, whether you choose to edit your theme’s ‘functions.php’ file or use a dedicated plugin. Just remember that disabling image compression entirely may result in slower loading times and increased bandwidth usage for your website, so make sure to weigh the pros and cons before making any changes.