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Why WP-Optimize Shows Images as Compressed When They're Not (And How to Fix It)

20 threads Sep 10, 2025

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Many users of the 'WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance' plugin report a confusing issue: the plugin displays a message in their media library stating an image has been compressed and saved a certain percentage, even though they have the image compression feature completely turned off. This can be alarming, especially for users who rely on other optimization methods, like server-level WebP conversion, and don't want unnecessary processing on their images.

Why This Happens

Based on community reports and troubleshooting threads, this behavior is typically a display or database glitch rather than actual compression. The plugin's meta-information, which records the compression status of an image, can become out of sync with the actual files. This can happen if:

  • The image was compressed in the past, the feature was later disabled, but the historical data was not cleared.
  • Another plugin or process has replaced or modified the image file after it was compressed by WP-Optimize, but WP-Optimize's records were not updated to reflect the change.
  • A database cleanup operation may have inadvertently affected the plugin's internal task tracking.

How to Confirm the Issue

Before proceeding, it's important to verify that compression is indeed inactive.

  1. Navigate to WP-Optimize > Images.
  2. Ensure both sliders for 'Enable lossless compression' and 'Enable lossy compression' are in the OFF position.
  3. Check your server's file manager or use an FTP client to look at the actual image files. If you are using server-level WebP, your image URLs should end in .webp. The file modification dates and sizes should also align with your expectations, not with a recent compression event.

Common Solutions to Resolve the Display Glitch

1. Refresh the Plugin's Compression Status

The most effective fix is to reset the plugin's internal log of which images it believes are compressed. This does not affect your actual image files.

  1. Go to WP-Optimize > Images.
  2. Click on Show advanced options.
  3. Click the button labeled "Mark all images as uncompressed".
  4. This clears the plugin's database records. Since compression is disabled, it will not attempt to compress anything afterward. The messages in your media library should now disappear.

2. Check for Plugin Conflicts

If you use another image optimization plugin or a plugin that replaces media files, a conflict can cause this discrepancy. The 'WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance' team suggests using only one image optimization tool at a time to avoid such conflicts. Deactivate other image plugins temporarily to see if the issue resolves.

3. Review File and Folder Permissions

In some cases, underlying file permission issues can prevent plugins from updating their status correctly. Ensure your wp-content directory has the correct permissions (typically 755). You may need to contact your web hosting provider to verify this.

This display issue is generally harmless if compression is confirmed to be off, but using the steps above can help clean up your media library and provide peace of mind.

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