How to Replace Images in WordPress with Enable Media Replace Plugin
Replacing images in WordPress, as simple as it may sound, unfortunately, isn’t a straightforward process. If you already tried to replace a WordPress featured image or a picture on any page, you may have found that you had to make a change on each page that features the image. If you fail to do that, you’ll end up with a lot of pages without images – which makes for a pretty bad visual experience.
The lack of a straightforward solution for image replacement in WordPress may be a particular issue for online shops which usually feature large image databases. However, this challenge is actually quite easy to overcome – with the right plugin.
Let’s see how to enable media replacement in WordPress websites.
Enable Media Replace Plugin
Enable Media Replace Plugin by ShortPixel allows you to replace an image or media file in your Media Library by simply uploading a new file in its place. All the pages that contain this file will automatically be updated. There is only one requirement – the new file has to be the same type as the one you’re replacing.
At the moment, this WordPress plugin has more than 400.000 active users and regular updates. It is compatible with plugins that additionally optimize images and regenerate thumbnails in WordPress.
To install the plugin, go to your Dashboard and click on Plugins > Add New. In the upper right corner, type “Enable Media Replace” in the search bar, and select the result. Install the plugin and activate it.
Replace an Image Step by Step
Start by finding the image you want to replace in the Media Library. You will access the library from your dashboard, in the Media > Library section.
There are two ways Media Library is displayed, but we recommend that you opt for a List view during image replacement.
Locate the image you want to replace. Hover over it to see the options, which include the plugin-based replacement option Replace media.
In the window, you’ll see a new Replace media button that will lead you to the editing page.
This will open the window with additional options. You will be warned that these changes are irreversible, so make sure you double-check everything you do. Don’t forget to optimize the image, because it directly affects your site speed and search engine ranking.
Choose the file you want to add.
There are a couple of options to set. The first one refers to the date of publishing. You can opt for replacing the date with the new one, keeping the old date, and setting a custom date.
Pay extra attention to the following setting. If you opt for Just replace the file, the new image has to have the same file extension as the old one. Also, its name and URL will remain the same.
If you go with “Replace the file, use new file name and update all links” the file name and URL will change.
Finish by clicking on Upload.
Final Thoughts
This plugin will allow you to do a daunting, time-consuming task in a matter of minutes. However, always keep in mind that images are an incredibly important ingredient of every website. This is why they need to be fully optimized to make the best of your site in terms of search rankings, loading speed, and overall user experience. Also, you should always protect images on your WordPress website to keep them safe and ready to shine.
We hope this article was helpful. If you liked it, feel free to check out some of these articles as well!
