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Is Regenerate Thumbnails Compatible With Your WordPress Version?

12 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Regenerate thumbnails

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Many WordPress users rely on the Regenerate Thumbnails plugin to fix image display issues after changing themes or adjusting site settings. A common concern that arises, especially after a core WordPress update, is whether the plugin remains compatible. This guide will help you understand the plugin's compatibility and what to do if you encounter issues.

Understanding the Core Compatibility of Regenerate Thumbnails

The fundamental reason Regenerate Thumbnails is generally compatible across many WordPress versions is that it primarily uses built-in WordPress core functions to do its job. It doesn't reinvent the wheel; it simply tells WordPress to reprocess your images according to your current theme's specified image sizes. This design makes it remarkably resilient to updates.

Why You Might See Compatibility Warnings

You may see a message on the plugin's directory page stating, "This plugin hasn’t been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress." Security plugins like Wordfence might also flag it. This does not automatically mean the plugin is broken.

This warning is an automated message that appears when the plugin author has not manually updated the "Tested up to" version number in the plugin's readme file. It indicates a lag in formal testing acknowledgment, not necessarily a lag in functionality. Community reports often show the plugin continues to work well on versions far newer than the listed "Tested up to" version.

Troubleshooting Steps if You Experience Problems

If your images disappear or you encounter errors after a WordPress update, follow these steps to identify the cause:

  1. Isolate the Plugin: The first step is to determine if Regenerate Thumbnails is actually the cause. Temporarily deactivate the plugin. If the issue (like missing images) resolves immediately, the plugin or a conflict is likely the culprit. If the problem persists, the issue lies elsewhere, such as with your theme or another plugin.
  2. Check for Conflicts: Conflicts with other plugins or your theme are a more common source of problems than the core plugin itself. Deactivate all other plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One). Then, reactivate Regenerate Thumbnails and see if the problem recurs. If it doesn't, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one to find the conflicting software.
  3. You Don't Need to "Un-Generate" Thumbnails: A common question is how to reverse the plugin's changes to uninstall it. This is not necessary. The thumbnails it creates are standard WordPress files. You can safely deactivate and delete the plugin at any time without affecting your existing images; your site will simply use the images that are already there.

What to Do For Very Old WordPress Sites

If you are maintaining a site on a legacy version of WordPress (e.g., 3.9.8 or 4.x), you may need an older version of the plugin. Older releases can often be found on the plugin's GitHub repository. However, be aware that using outdated software on an outdated WordPress core version can pose significant security risks.

In most cases, Regenerate Thumbnails continues to function correctly through WordPress updates due to its reliance on core functionality. If you run into trouble, a plugin or theme conflict is the most probable cause. Following the troubleshooting steps above will usually help you get back on track.

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