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If you’re running a WordPress site, managing image sizes and storage is a critical part of your website maintenance. Images can quickly fill up your hosting storage and slow down your website, negatively impacting your SEO rankings and user experience. Imagify, a popular image optimization plugin, addresses these issues by compressing your images and optionally removing original copies to free valuable disk space. In this guide, we’ll explore exactly how to delete original images with Imagify quickly and easily.
What is Imagify and Why Use It?
Imagify is a leading WordPress plugin designed to compress, resize, and optimize images automatically upon upload. It helps websites improve load times and reduce storage usage, making it ideal for both speed optimization and cost-efficiency. Its option to delete original images after optimization is particularly helpful for website owners with limited hosting resources.
Benefits of Deleting Original Images Using Imagify
There are several advantages to deleting your original images with Imagify:
- Improved Site Performance: Smaller images mean faster load times, enhancing user experience.
- SEO Improvement: Google prioritizes fast-loading websites, boosting your site’s search rankings.
- Storage Savings: Save significant hosting storage by removing bulky original files.
- Reduced Hosting Costs: Avoid expensive hosting upgrades by managing your storage efficiently.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Delete Original Images with Imagify
Let’s dive into the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Install and Activate Imagify Plugin
If you haven’t already:
- Log into your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “Imagify”.
- Click Install Now, then activate the plugin.
Step 2: Configure Imagify Settings
Once activated:
- Go to Settings > Imagify.
- Connect or create an Imagify account if you haven’t already.
Step 3: Enable the Option to Delete Original Images
In your Imagify settings:
- Scroll down to the “Optimization” section.
- Select your preferred optimization level (Aggressive or Ultra recommended).
- Find the “Backup Original Images” option and uncheck this to enable original image deletion.
Step 4: Save Your Changes
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the settings page.
Important Considerations Before Deleting Original Images
Before enabling the deletion of your original images, consider the following:
- Image Quality: Ensure you’re satisfied with Imagify’s optimization quality. Once deleted, original images cannot be restored without manual backups.
- Backup: Regularly backup your entire website or specifically your uploads folder.
- Testing: Test Imagify on a staging site or local environment to verify image quality meets your needs.
Imagify Optimization Levels Explained
Imagify offers three main optimization levels:
- Normal: Minimal compression, best quality, small storage reduction.
- Aggressive (Recommended): Balanced compression, high-quality retention, noticeable storage savings.
- Ultra: Maximum compression, suitable for highly optimized sites; image quality slightly reduced but acceptable for most use cases.
For most websites, the aggressive setting strikes the ideal balance between performance and quality.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are solutions for common issues you may face:
Issue: Images not optimizing automatically.
Solution:
- Ensure Imagify is active.
- Verify API key is correctly entered in Imagify settings.
- Check for plugin conflicts by temporarily disabling other plugins.
Issue: Deleted images needed again.
Solution:
- Use a backup to restore images from your host or cloud backup service.
Advanced Optimization Tips for Imagify
For maximum effectiveness with Imagify:
- Bulk Optimize: Use Imagify’s bulk optimizer for older images already on your site by going to Media > Bulk Optimization.
- Resize Images Automatically: Use Imagify’s resizing feature to standardize image dimensions and further save storage.
- WP Rocket Integration: Pair Imagify with caching plugins like WP Rocket to maximize page loading speed.
Imagify Alternatives: Comparing Features
If Imagify doesn’t fully meet your requirements, consider these popular alternatives:
- ShortPixel: Similar functionality, great for bulk compression.
- Smush: User-friendly, widely used, robust free-tier optimization.
- EWWW Image Optimizer: Offers local optimization without API limits.
While these plugins have their strengths, Imagify is typically preferred for its ease of use, exceptional optimization quality, and seamless integration with popular caching tools.
FAQs: Deleting Original Images with Imagify
Q: Can I restore deleted original images?
A: Not easily—Imagify doesn’t store deleted originals. Always backup before enabling this option.
Q: Does Imagify deletion affect existing images?
A: Yes, enabling deletion and bulk optimizing will delete originals for previously uploaded images.
Q: Is Imagify compatible with CDN services?
A: Absolutely, Imagify optimizes locally before CDN delivery, ensuring CDN distributes optimized images.
Real-World Example: Imagify in Action
A popular photography website reduced their server space usage by 70% using Imagify’s aggressive optimization and deleting original images. This improved load times significantly, which led to a 35% increase in organic traffic over three months.
Best Practices Checklist: Using Imagify Effectively
- Regularly backup your website images.
- Choose appropriate compression (Aggressive recommended).
- Test optimization quality on staging before applying to live site.
- Monitor your storage usage regularly.
Final Thoughts: Should You Delete Original Images with Imagify?
For most website owners, deleting original images with Imagify can be incredibly beneficial. It’s an effective strategy to improve website performance, boost SEO, and efficiently manage your hosting resources. By carefully following this guide, you’ll leverage Imagify’s powerful features safely and effectively.
Ready to optimize your WordPress images and boost performance? Install Imagify today and start freeing up valuable storage space!
