Clickable Featured Image

Clickable Featured Image fixes a common WordPress problem: featured images often look clickable, but nothing happens when visitors click them.

Activate the plugin and featured images become useful links:

• On single posts and pages, featured images link to the full-size image file by default, which works well with common lightbox plugins.
• If the image already displays the full-size file, the plugin leaves it unlinked instead of opening the same image again.
• On archive pages, category pages, search results, and Query Loop blocks, featured images link to the post by default.
• If a theme or block already links the featured image, the plugin leaves it alone to avoid duplicate links.

The default setup is still zero configuration, but version 1.1.0 adds a small Settings screen for sites that need more control.

Features

• Make post featured images clickable
• Link single-post featured images to the full-size image file
• Skip pointless same-image links when the displayed single featured image is already the full-size image
• Link archive and Query Loop featured images to the post permalink
• Optional attachment-page or no-link behavior on single posts
• Optional no-link behavior on archives
• Enable only the post types you want
• Works with the core Featured Image block and Query Loop block
• Tested with GeneratePress, Twenty Twenty-Four, and common lightbox workflows
• Lightweight: no front-end JavaScript unless Meow/Lightbox compatibility is needed

When to use it

Use this plugin when:

• Your blog archive thumbnails should link to posts.
• Your single-post featured image should open in a lightbox.
• Your theme displays featured images but does not make them clickable.
• You want a small plugin instead of a full gallery or lightbox suite.

Settings

Go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image.

Available settings:

• Single posts and pages: full-size image file, attachment page, or do not link.
• Archives and query loops: post permalink or do not link.
• Post types: choose which public post types with featured image support should be affected.

Defaults match the original plugin behavior: single posts link to the full-size image and archive images link to the post.