How it works

This page explains what happens from your original image to the file your visitors receive.

Where processing happens

On your own web server, using Imagick or GD. Images never leave your site and the plugin makes no external connections. Which formats can be written depends on your host; the settings page shows what is available.

What gets converted

JPEG and PNG images, including every thumbnail size WordPress created. Animated images and images that are too large for your server (over 40 megapixels) are skipped safely.

What happens to your originals

Your original is never renamed or replaced unless you turn on Compress originals. Converted files are saved next to it, for example photo.jpg.webp.

If you enable recompression, a backup of each file is kept in a private folder inside your uploads directory. Restore original puts the file back, and replaced or edited files invalidate older converted copies.

Serving modern formats

With "Use picture tags" selected, the plugin wraps the image in a <picture> element at display time. Browsers that support AVIF or WebP pick the lighter file, and everyone else, including feeds and social scrapers, gets the original. Nothing is rewritten in your posts or database.

Caches

After optimising, restoring or removing converted files, the plugin purges LiteSpeed Cache automatically so visitors get the new picture tags at once. With other page caches, purge the cache after optimising.

What it does not do

• It does not optimise in bulk or automatically on upload. Both are planned for MeloTools Premium.
• It does not convert HEIC files.
• It does not send anything to MeloTools.