How to optimize images and video
Media is usually the heaviest thing on a page. This panel controls when it loads, how large the files are, and which images matter most.
On most pages, images and video account for more bytes than everything else combined. There are two separate ways to fix that: send fewer of them up front, and make each one smaller. The Media Optimization panel does both, plus a Pro tool that tells you which images are worth your attention.
Where to find it
- In your WordPress admin, click xSpeed Cache in the left menu.
- In the xSpeed Cache sidebar, open the Optimization group.
- Click the Media Optimization card.
Shortcut: open
wp-admin/admin.php?page=xspeed#/performance/lazydirectly.✅ This panel is part of xSpeed Cache (Free). Two of its tabs are ⭐ Pro.
Tabs on this panel
| Tab | Feature | Tier | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazy Loading | Defer offscreen media until it’s needed | Free | How to lazy-load images and video |
| Image Optimization | Compress and convert your media files | ⭐ Pro | How to convert images to WebP |
| Smart Image | AI suggestions for the images that matter | ⭐ Pro | How to get AI image suggestions |
Each tab has its own address, so you can link straight to one:
| Tab | URL |
|---|---|
| Lazy Loading | #/performance/lazy |
| Image Optimization | #/performance/lazy/images |
| Smart Image | #/performance/lazy/smart |
Which one should you use?
These solve different halves of the same problem, and the order matters.
| Lazy Loading | Image Optimization | Smart Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it changes | When media loads | How big each file is | What you should fix |
| Effect | Fewer requests up front | Fewer bytes per request | Guidance, not a change |
| Effort | Mostly on by default | Runs in the background | Read and act |
| Tier | Free | ⭐ Pro | ⭐ Pro |
Lazy Loading is already doing most of the work — its main toggles ship on. It’s the one tab here that’s useful without any configuration.
Image Optimization compounds with it: lazy loading means fewer images load, compression means each one is smaller. Neither replaces the other.
Smart Image doesn’t change anything by itself — it analyses your media library and tells you which images are actually costing you.
💡 Lazy loading and compression are complementary, not alternatives. Deferring a 2 MB hero image still means the visitor eventually downloads 2 MB. Compressing it without deferring means they download it immediately, just smaller. Do both.