Reducing media image sizes does not free up sapce

  • Unknown's avatar
    paulmarkj · Member ·

    I reduced an image size within the media library (edit – change dimensions – save), but this does not reduce the media library size.

    Example: Media library says:
    ‘You are currently using 110.1 MB’.
    I added a 20Mb image and media library says:
    ‘You are currently using 130.1 MB’.
    I resized the image down to 2MB and media library says:
    ‘You are currently using 132.4 MB’.

    Reducing the image size has INCREASED the overall usage. There appears to be the original still existing somewhere, but I cannot find how to get rid of it.

    Any ideas?

    WP.com: Yes
    Correct account: Yes

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to moderators and staff)

  • staff-doublebassd · Staff ·

    Hi there,

    Can you provide the URL to the image that you reduced in size? We’d be happy to look further into this for you.

    Thanks!

  • Unknown's avatar
    themagicrobot · Member ·

    Reducing the image size has INCREASED the overall usage.

    I have noticed this too. Another image has been added. I find it preferable to optimize my images before I upload them. Consequently I have 2784 images on my site and still have only used 21% of my 3GB. At 132MB you have a long way to go too.
    https://wordpress.com/support/media/image-optimization/

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    That’s a good point.

    Just to be sure, when you add the smaller image, are you also deleting the original?

  • Unknown's avatar
    paulmarkj · Member ·

    That’s a good point.

    Just to be sure, when you add the smaller image, are you also deleting the original?

    Hi, I don’t add another image, I just adjust the image in media-library and the library only shows one image and says that image is 2MB.

    The image link changes after I edited it:

    Prior to editing:
    https://markjjterrell.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_20210803_170603-5.jpg
    Reduced after editing:
    https://markjjterrell.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_20210803_170603-5-e1646248969894.jpg

    Thanks for looking at this. As a previous post said, I can make the adjusts before uploading, but it would be much easier im wordpress.

  • Unknown's avatar
    helper-heroponriki · Member ·

    Thanks for that. Editing a photo in the media library doesn’t change the original image you uploaded, but instead saves a copy of that image in order for you to be able to revert any of those changes.

    You can see it yourself by searching your media library for the original image prefix of img_20210803_170603 and you’ll see there’s six different versions of the image. Also, since both the “prior” and “edited” image links you provided above still work and load independently, their file sizes would count towards your media storage limits.

    To avoid this, either resize your images before you upload them or delete the “original” from your media library once you have edited the image.

    I hope that clarifies things!

  • Unknown's avatar
    themagicrobot · Member ·

    The first image is a massive 28.5MB and took two minutes to load in my browser so I don’t think it’s a great idea uploading images that size as it will slow down visitors. The second image isn’t 2MB for me but a smaller 320Kb.
    PS I visited your site and it took 6 minutes to load so you may need to consider if visitors are prepared to wait that long.

  • Unknown's avatar
    paulmarkj · Member ·

    Thanks for the information fro everybody.

    I only loaded the 29MB file to test out the sizes, but I need to check all the files and as you say, change before uploading.

    Thank you.

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