David Baumwald

*** 2022-09-12 UPDATE *** 
@matt published a post and codified a final decision that <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2022/09/11/webp-in-core-for-6-1/" rel="nofollow ugc">WebP by default would not be coming to WordPress Core in version 6.1</a>. That being the case, this plugin will not be necessary for users to prevent WebP generation by default as part of the Core upload process.
Proposed to be included in WordPress 6.0 is a new feature to generate and use webp images by default. Specifically, when an image is uploaded, a WebP version of every image subsize is created. According to <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/2022/03/28/enabling-webp-by-default/" rel="nofollow ugc">the proposal</a>, one downside is that generating WebP versions along with the original JPEGs will “use an additional ~70% of the storage space to store both file types.” Although this is hugely beneficial to most websites and, more importantly, their visitors, some site owners may not be immediately able to increase the size of their storage to accommodate the additional files. For more information, see the proposal or <a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/55443" rel="nofollow ugc">the Trac ticket</a>.
To help site owners manage the transition, this plugin adds a setting under Settings -> Media to either enable or disable WebP creation on the initial upload of JPEGs. For Multisite installations, the plugin can be activated network-wide or on individual sites.
*** 2022-07-22 UPDATE *** 
Although the original implementation was not merged in 6.0 due to community feedback, changeset 53751(https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/53751) merged an updated implementation that addresses some(but not all) concerns from the community. This merge will be part of the 6.1 release, unless further changes are needed. Some site owners may not be able to immediately cope with doubling their required storage allotment with their host, so the original goal of this plugin remains. The code has been updated to disable WebP creation on upload globally. There is a new ticket discussing the possibility of making this feature into a setting(see https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/56263). However, given WordPress’s core philosphy of “Decisions, Not Options”, it’s unlikely to proceed.

Disable WebP By Default

Thank you for creating this plugin!  It's a shame it's necessary, but I appreciate that you created it to make it easier for site owners to be able to take back control over their sites without needing to know how to add a filter.

Thank you!

Thank you for your work with this plugin (and just keeping track and reporting all the latest WEBP changes, etc.). Great to find so much useful information in the plugin documentation. Very much appreciated!

Thank you

A small plugin to control WebP image creation when JPEG images are uploaded.

adgardner1392

WebP Image Optimization enhances your website’s performance by converting uploaded JPEG and PNG images to the more efficient WebP format. It also allows you to resize images to specified maximum dimensions and adjust image quality and compression settings. With the latest update, you can now convert existing images directly from the Media Library and view detailed file size savings, making the optimization process more insightful and streamlined.
Key Features:
<ul>
<li>
Automatic Conversion to WebP:
<ul>
<li>Converts JPEG and PNG images to WebP format upon upload.</li>
<li>Option to exclude JPEG and/or PNG images from conversion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Media Library Integration:
<ul>
<li>New in v1.4.0: Added WebP conversion option directly within the Media Library.</li>
<li>Easily convert existing images to WebP without re-uploading.</li>
<li>v1.3.1: Added redirection/refresh when an existing image is converted to WebP in the Media library.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Image Resizing:
<ul>
<li>Resize images that exceed user-defined maximum width and height.</li>
<li>Maintains aspect ratio during resizing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Quality and Compression Control:
<ul>
<li>Set JPEG quality (0-100).</li>
<li>Set PNG compression level (0-9).</li>
<li>Adjust settings via intuitive sliders or input fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
File Size Savings Display:
<ul>
<li>New in v1.4.0: Displays original and WebP file sizes in a readable format (KB/MB).</li>
<li>Shows the amount of file size saved both in bytes and percentage.</li>
<li>Enhances transparency of optimization benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Settings Page:
<ul>
<li>Accessible under Tools > WebP Image Optimization in the WordPress admin dashboard.</li>
<li>User-friendly interface with responsive design.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Optimized for Performance:
<ul>
<li>Uses vanilla JavaScript for settings page interactions.</li>
<li>Follows WordPress coding standards and best practices.</li>
<li>Minimal impact on server resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Benefits:
<ul>
<li>
Improved Page Load Times:
<ul>
<li>WebP images are typically smaller than JPEG and PNG, reducing bandwidth usage.</li>
<li>Faster image loading enhances user experience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
SEO Advantages:
<ul>
<li>Improved site speed can positively impact search engine rankings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
User Control:
<ul>
<li>Flexible settings allow customization based on specific needs.</li>
<li>Ability to maintain original image formats if desired.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
Enhanced Convenience:
<ul>
<li>Convert existing images directly from the Media Library, saving time and effort.</li>
<li>View detailed file size savings to understand optimization impact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Roadmap</h3>
<ul>
<li>Implement fallback mechanisms for browsers that do not support WebP.</li>
<li>Add bulk conversion option for existing images in the media library.</li>
<li>Provide more granular control over image resizing and quality settings.</li>
<li>Enhance compatibility with other media-related plugins.</li>
<li>Introduce advanced reporting on overall file size savings across the website.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Support</h3>
For support, please visit the <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/webp-image-optimization/" rel="ugc">plugin support forum</a> or the <a href="https://github.com/adgardner1392/webp-image-optimization/issues" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub repository</a>.

WebP Image Optimization

Automatically converts uploaded JPEG and PNG images to WebP format, resizes them, and allows conversion of existing images directly from the Media Lib …

Disable WebP By Default vs WebP Image Optimization