Disable Media Sizes

What is Disable Media Sizes?

Disable Media Sizes is a focused utility that stops WordPress from generating extra image thumbnails during uploads. Developed by Jeff Starr, a 15-year WordPress veteran and book author, this plugin has been maintained for 6 years. It currently holds 10K+ active installations and a perfect 5.0/5 rating from 23 reviews—all five-star. Version 2.5.1 was last updated on Apr 17, 2026, reflecting consistent maintenance.

The plugin targets the core image sizes that WordPress creates by default. These include thumbnail, medium, large, medium-large (768px), 1536x1536, 2048x2048, and the "big/scaled" version. By disabling these sizes, you reduce server storage and processing overhead. The plugin does not alter or delete any existing images; it only prevents future uploads from generating extra copies. This distinction is critical for site owners who want to stop wordpress image thumbnails without losing previously uploaded files.

Key Features of Disable Media Sizes

• Selective Size Disabling – Check or uncheck boxes for each core WordPress image size, including the 1536x1536 and 2048x2048 variants.
• One-Click Restore Defaults – Revert all settings to WordPress defaults with a single button, useful for testing or rollback.
• Lightweight Code Base – Built using the WordPress API and coding standards, the plugin adds minimal overhead to your admin area.
• No Image Deletion – Disabling sizes only affects new uploads; existing media files remain untouched and intact.
• Simple Settings Screen – The options page explains each image size clearly, making it easy for beginners to disable extra image sizes wordpress.
• Privacy Compliant – The plugin collects no user data, sets no cookies, and connects to no external services.
• Full Disable Mode – If you disable every size, only the original uploaded image is stored. This is ideal for sites that serve images at full resolution only.

Who Should Use Disable Media Sizes?

This plugin suits site owners who want to disable image sizes without editing theme files or writing custom code. Beginners can use it immediately—the interface is a few checkboxes and a save button. Developers appreciate the lightweight approach and the fact that it only hooks into core WordPress functions. With 10K+ users and a 100% five-star rating, the plugin appeals to both new and experienced WordPress administrators.

Typical use cases include photography portfolios that need only full-resolution images, performance-focused blogs that want to reduce storage bloat, and multisite networks where each site generates dozens of unused thumbnails. If you are researching how to disable image sizes in wordpress, this plugin provides a direct, no-fuss solution. It works on any site running WordPress 5.3+ and PHP 5.6.20+.

Installation & Setup

Install Disable Media Sizes like any other plugin—search for it in the WordPress repository, activate it, and visit the settings page. There you will see checkboxes for each image size. Uncheck the sizes you want to disable, then save. The process takes under a minute and requires no technical knowledge. For users who want to stop wordpress image thumbnails immediately, this is as straightforward as it gets.

Support & Community

Jeff Starr provides direct support through the WordPress.org forum. In the last two months, there was 1 open thread and 1 resolved thread, yielding a 100% resolution rate. This low volume suggests the plugin is stable and rarely causes issues. The 5.0/5 rating from 23 reviews reflects this reliability—every single rating is five stars, with zero one-star reviews. The FAQ addresses the most common question: if you still see extra images, they are likely generated by your theme or another plugin, not by WordPress core. For edge cases, Starr offers a contact form on his site for direct questions.