Disable Big Image Threshold prevents WordPress from automatically downscaling large images. By default, images larger than 2560 pixels are reduced; disabling this keeps images at full resolution.
What this feature does
WordPress introduced automatic image downscaling in version 5.3 to reduce storage usage and improve performance. Any image with width or height exceeding 2560 pixels is automatically resized to that limit. For most websites, this is beneficial. However, photographers, artists, and high-resolution design work often need to preserve original image dimensions without modification.
When this feature is enabled, WordPress stops applying the automatic downscaling and allows full-resolution images to be stored as uploaded. Users can still manually optimize images if they choose, but WordPress no longer forces the resize.
Storage consideration: Disabling this means larger images consume more disk space. Ensure your hosting plan has adequate storage before enabling this feature.
How to enable it
- Open AdminEase > Media.
- Toggle Disable Big Image Threshold on.
- Save. Full-resolution images are now preserved on upload.
Settings reference
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Disable Big Image Threshold | Disables WordPress automatic image downscaling. Images larger than 2560px are kept at original resolution instead of being resized to 2560px. | Off |
What happens behind the scenes
When enabled, AdminEase hooks the WordPress big_image_size_threshold filter and returns false, effectively disabling the threshold check. This works at the upload stage. WordPress checks the image dimensions against the threshold value; returning false means no comparison occurs, and the image is stored as-is. Previously uploaded large images are not affected; only new uploads bypass the downscaling check.
Troubleshooting
Large images are still being resized
Verify the setting is enabled in AdminEase > Media. Also check whether your theme or another plugin has its own image optimization. Some plugins aggressively resize images regardless of WordPress settings.
Do existing images stay the same size?
Yes. This feature only affects newly uploaded images. If you previously uploaded a large image and WordPress downscaled it, that downscaled version remains. You would need to re-upload the original full-resolution file.
How much storage do unscaled images use?
Depends on the image resolution and format. A 4000x3000 pixel JPEG may be 2-5MB, compared to a 2560x1920 version at 1-2MB. Enable this feature only if your hosting provider allows it and you have sufficient storage allocated.