Automatic Upload Optimization
Optimize new uploads automatically in queue mode or immediate mode after media is added.
Upload automation processes supported new attachments after WordPress generates their attachment metadata. This avoids racing WordPress image editors and ensures the file and metadata are ready before Vacuum evaluates it.
On WordPress 7.1, client-side media processing may produce a create metadata pass with no finalized size map followed by an update pass with the registered derivatives. Vacuum defers the first pass, processes the finalized update, and does not enqueue duplicate work when the same metadata is reconciled again.
Modes
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Queue | Marks supported uploads for later batch processing. |
| Immediate | Attempts optimization during the upload flow when Safe Mode is off. |
Queue mode is safer for busy editorial teams and large files. With Safe Mode enabled, Vacuum queues automatic work conservatively even when Immediate is selected, so image processing does not unnecessarily extend an upload request.
Supported uploads
JPEG, PNG, and WebP uploads can be handled. SVG and GIF files are skipped safely, and other unsupported formats receive a skip reason.
Metadata
Processed uploads record automation metadata such as _vacimg_auto_processed and _vacimg_auto_processed_at.
The Media Library can distinguish Pending automatic optimization, Optimized automatically, Skipped by exclusion, and Failed, retry available.