Description
Image Preloading is a powerful WordPress plugin that helps improve your website’s performance by preloading images in the background. This results in faster page loading experiences, especially beneficial for photo galleries, image-heavy sites, and e-commerce stores.
Features
- Multiple Preloading Methods: Choose between JavaScript preloading, modern Link preload headers, or both
- Unlimited Image URLs: Add as many images as you need
- Modern JavaScript: Uses Promise-based loading with proper error handling
- Performance Optimized: Only loads when needed and uses browser idle time when available
- Security Focused: Proper input sanitization and validation
- Admin Interface: Clean, modern settings page integrated with WordPress admin
- Localization Ready: Translation-ready with proper text domains
Preloading Methods
- JavaScript Method: Uses modern JavaScript with Promise-based image loading. Compatible with all browsers.
- Link Preload: Uses HTML
<link rel="preload">tags for modern browsers with native preloading support. - Both Methods: Combines both approaches for maximum compatibility and performance.
Use Cases
- Photo galleries and portfolios
- E-commerce product images
- Hero banners and sliders
- Background images
- Any image-heavy content
Support
For support, bug reports, or feature requests, please visit: Github
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or open issues on GitHub.
License
This plugin is licensed under the GPLv2 or later.
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Screenshots
Settings Page 
HTML code of preloading 
Preloading waterfall
Installation
Automatic Installation
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New
- Search for “Image Preloading”
- Click Install Now
- Activate the plugin
Manual Installation
- Download the plugin ZIP file
- Upload the plugin files to
/wp-content/plugins/image-preloading/ - Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress
FAQ
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How does image preloading work?
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Image preloading loads images in the background before they are needed, so when users navigate to pages containing these images, they appear instantly instead of loading progressively.
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Which preloading method should I choose?
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- JavaScript: Best for compatibility with all browsers
- Link Preload: Best performance for modern browsers
- Both: Recommended for maximum compatibility and performance
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Can I preload images from external domains?
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Yes, but ensure the external server allows cross-origin requests. The plugin properly handles CORS headers.
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How many images can I preload?
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There’s no strict limit, but keep in mind that preloading too many large images can impact initial page load performance. Use judiciously.
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Does this work with caching plugins?
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Yes, the plugin works well with caching plugins and can complement them by ensuring images are cached even before they’re viewed.
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Image Preloading” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Image Preloading” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Change log
2.0.0
- Complete rewrite with modern WordPress standards
- Added multiple preloading methods (JavaScript, Link preload, Both)
- Modern admin interface with improved UX
- Security enhancements and proper input sanitization
- Performance optimizations with requestIdleCallback support
- Promise-based JavaScript with proper error handling
- Better localization support
- PHP 7.2+ requirement for better performance
- WordPress 5.0+ compatibility
1.0.0
- Initial release
- Basic JavaScript image preloading functionality