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Why Are My Thumbnails the Wrong Size or Aspect Ratio After Using EWWW Image Optimizer?

39 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Ewww image optimizer

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If you've noticed your WordPress thumbnails looking stretched, distorted, or reverting to an old crop after using EWWW Image Optimizer, you're not alone. This is a common point of confusion that often stems from how the plugin interacts with other WordPress processes. This guide will explain why it happens and how to fix it.

Why This Happens

Contrary to what it may seem, EWWW Image Optimizer does not alter the dimensions or aspect ratio of your thumbnails during its standard optimization process. The plugin's primary job is to compress image files to reduce their file size, not to change their visual presentation.

The most common cause of thumbnail distortion is a conflict that occurs during thumbnail regeneration. Some themes or plugins (like user avatar uploaders or custom gallery tools) do not use the standard WordPress Media Library to handle images. When you use a separate plugin to force-regenerate thumbnails, EWWW's optimization process can sometimes interfere, preventing the new, correctly cropped versions from being saved and causing the system to fall back to the original, uncropped image.

Another possibility is that another plugin or theme feature is responsible for the resizing. It's important to rule out other recent changes to your site before concluding EWWW is the cause.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix Thumbnail Issues

1. Use the "Editor Override" for Regeneration

If you consistently have problems when regenerating thumbnails with EWWW active, the EWWW Image Optimizer team provides a specific fix. You can add a special constant to your WordPress configuration file (wp-config.php) that tells EWWW to skip optimization during editor operations. This allows other plugins to regenerate images without interference.

To implement this:

  1. Access your website's files via FTP or your hosting provider's file manager.
  2. Locate the wp-config.php file in your site's root directory.
  3. Edit the file and add the following line of code above the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */: 
    define( 'EWWW_IMAGE_OPTIMIZER_EDITOR_OVERWRITE', false );
  4. Save the file and upload it back to your server if necessary.

After adding this code, deactivate and reactivate EWWW Image Optimizer. You should now be able to regenerate your thumbnails successfully without the plugin interfering with the process.

2. Check for Plugin Conflicts

To rule out a conflict with another plugin, follow these steps:

  1. Temporarily deactivate all plugins except EWWW Image Optimizer.
  2. Regenerate your thumbnails again using your preferred regeneration tool.
  3. If the thumbnails generate correctly, reactivate your other plugins one-by-one, regenerating after each activation, to identify which one is causing the conflict.

3. Verify Your Theme's Behavior

Some themes create their own custom image sizes in special folders that may not be optimized by default. Check your theme's documentation to see if it has specific image handling requirements. If thumbnails are distorted on the front-end but look correct in your media library, the issue is likely with your theme's CSS or display logic, not with the image files themselves.

What EWWW Does and Does Not Do

  • Does NOT: Intentionally change thumbnail dimensions, aspect ratios, or crops.
  • Does: Optimize (compress) image files that already exist, including the original uploaded image and all thumbnails generated by WordPress.
  • Does: Resize the original full-size image upon upload, but only if you have explicitly enabled the "Resize Media Images" option in the plugin's Advanced settings.

By understanding this distinction and using the editor override when needed, you can enjoy the benefits of image optimization without worrying about your thumbnails becoming distorted.

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