PixSpeed installs like any WordPress plugin and needs no configuration before your first conversion. This guide walks you from a clean install to a verified, served WebP/AVIF image in five steps.
Step 0 — Check the requirements
- WordPress 5.8 or newer.
- PHP 7.4 or newer (PHP 8.x recommended).
- For WebP: PHP GD or Imagick — present on almost every host.
- For AVIF: Imagick with the AVIF delegate, GD with AVIF support, or the
avifencbinary. On your own VPS:apt install webp libavif-bin.
Not sure what your host offers? Don't guess — the plugin tells you in the next step.
Step 1 — Install and activate
- In your dashboard go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
- Choose the
pixspeed.zipfile and click Install Now. - Click Activate.
Step 2 — Read the engine table
PixSpeed → Dashboard yes yes noTip: if AVIF shows no everywhere, you can still use PixSpeed with WebP only — then ask your host to enable the AVIF delegate or install libavif-bin, and PixSpeed will pick it up automatically.
Step 3 — Convert your first image
- Go to Media → Library and switch to list view if needed.
- Look at the new WebP/AVIF column — it shows the status badge for each image.
- Hover a JPEG or PNG row and click Convert in the row actions.
- Reload — the badge now shows WebP (and AVIF where supported), and every generated size of that image got its own variants.
Your original file is still there, byte for byte. Only new sibling files were added next to it.
Step 4 — Verify that variants are actually served
serving test serving modes explained troubleshootingStep 5 — Convert the rest
bulk conversion guideReassuring detail: you can revert everything at any time — single images, selected batches, or the entire library — from the dashboard. Restoring deletes only the generated variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the converted files stored?
Right next to your originals, in the same uploads folder. A file called photo.jpg gets photo.jpg.webp and photo.jpg.avif siblings. Nothing is moved, renamed or replaced.
How do I know my host supports conversion?
Open the PixSpeed dashboard right after activation — the engine table shows exactly which engines were detected for WebP and AVIF. If at least one WebP engine shows yes, you can start converting.
Does PixSpeed cost anything?
No. It is free and open source (GPLv2 or later). If you find it useful, you can support development via Buy Me a Coffee.
Can I change the quality later?
Yes. Adjust the WebP/AVIF quality sliders in Settings, restore the affected images, and convert them again. New settings apply to everything converted after the change.
