Recommended Settings for Most WordPress Websites
LessFlux is designed to work well with minimal configuration. For most websites, the default settings are already the best balance between performance, quality, and stability.
This guide explains the recommended setup and why each setting matters, so you know what to keep and what to change only if needed.
Image processing
Enable automatic optimization on upload.
- Automatically optimize images when uploaded: enabled
This ensures that every new image is processed without manual work. If this is disabled, new uploads will remain unoptimized unless you run bulk optimization.
Image formats
Keep all supported formats enabled.
- JPEG, PNG, GIF, AVIF, SVG, WebP: enabled
This allows LessFlux to process all common image types. Even if some formats are not converted, they can still be optimized or recompressed.
Image optimization settings
Use the following configuration for most websites:
- Keep original images: disabled
- Lazy load images: enabled
- Inline aspect ratio: enabled
- Preserve EXIF metadata: disabled
Disabling original storage keeps your media library clean and avoids unnecessary disk usage. Lazy loading improves initial load time, and inline aspect ratio prevents layout shifts. EXIF data is usually not needed on websites and removing it reduces file size further.
Image conversion
Enable modern format conversion with lossy compression.
- Convert images: enabled
- Convert to: WebP
- WebP quality: lossy
This provides the best balance between file size and visual quality for most use cases. Lossy compression significantly reduces size while keeping images visually acceptable.
File replacement behavior
Use URL-based replacement for flexibility.
- Replace schema: duplicate original and replace with URL on request
This keeps the original files intact while serving optimized versions. It is safer for most sites and avoids issues with themes or plugins that rely on original file references.
Enhancements
Leave cropping disabled unless you have a specific need.
- Crop images on upload: disabled
Cropping is not required for performance and can interfere with how themes handle image dimensions.
Video settings
Enable video optimization with a balanced preset.
- Trigger process on upload: enabled
- Preset: Medium
- Video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM enabled
- Replace original video: duplicate original video
The Medium preset provides a good trade-off between size and quality. Keeping the original video avoids permanent changes while still allowing optimized delivery.
Logging
Keep logging minimal unless troubleshooting.
- Minimum log level: Error only
This avoids unnecessary noise while still capturing important issues.
Server and environment recommendations
LessFlux handles processing externally, but your WordPress environment still matters.
- PHP version: 8.0 or higher recommended
- WordPress version: up to date
- HTTPS enabled
- REST API accessible
Since LessFlux relies on external communication, your site must be able to send and receive requests reliably.
When to change these settings
You should only adjust the defaults if you have a specific reason:
- Enable original storage if you need backups inside WordPress
- Preserve EXIF if metadata is required (photography, legal, etc.)
- Use lossless compression if image quality must be exact
- Disable lazy loading if another plugin already handles it
For most sites, the default configuration is already optimized for performance and simplicity. Changing settings without a clear goal can reduce the benefits or create unnecessary complexity.