How to Regenerate Thumbnails in WordPress?

Key Takeaways

  • Nexter Extension (Free) allows users to regenerate thumbnails easily in WordPress.
  • Regenerating thumbnails updates all thumbnail sizes for images in the Media Library when a new size is added.
  • Enabling the PHP Module Imagick is necessary to regenerate thumbnails successfully.
Table of Contents

Regenerating thumbnails in WordPress is an important task when it comes to managing and optimising your website’s images. This process ensures that your images are displayed correctly and in the appropriate sizes. 

With the Nexter Extension (Free) plugin you can easily regenerate the thumbnails.

Before we jump into the process, let’s understand why you need to regenerate thumbnails in WordPress.

  • Sometimes, WordPress users may face an issue where their featured images appear cropped or out of proportion.
  • WordPress saves images in different sizes when they are uploaded, and these sizes can be overridden by the theme being used.
  • Regenerating thumbnails allows you to update all thumbnail sizes for one or more images that have been uploaded to your Media Library.
  • Regenerating thumbnails is useful when a new thumbnail size has been added and you want past uploads to have a thumbnail in that size.

 

Learn via Video Tutorial

YouTube video

To regenerate thumbnails in WordPress, follow the steps.

Go to Nexter > Extensions > Utilities.

Then go to the Regenerate Thumbnails section and enable the toggle, after that click on the gear icon (⚙).

regenerate thumbnails settings new 1

Now you’ll see a popup where you’ll find different thumbnail size options, turn on the toggles for the sizes you want to generate thumbnails for.

Note: Ensure you have enabled the PHP Module Imagick to regenerate thumbnails.

Once done, click on the Regenerate button and the thumbnails will be generated.

regenerate thumbnails popup

How to Enable PHP Module Imagick in Your Server?

The PHP Module Imagick will be enabled by default with most good hosting providers. 

But if it is disabled for some reason, the best option would be to ask your hosting provider to enable it.

Alternatively, if you are using cPanel’s WebHost Manager (WHM) you can follow this guide to install and enable Imagick. 

For a standard cPanel, go to Software section > Select PHP Version.

cpanel php version

Image source Hostinger.

On the next page, click the Extensions tab, and find the imagick extension in the list and click the checkbox to enable it.

cpanel enable imagick

But if you want to enable PHP Module Imagick in your XAMPP localhost, you can follow this guide.

About the Author

Photo of Aditya Sharma CMO of NexterWP
CMO at POSIMYTH Innovations · NexterWP · 7 years experience

He has spent years in the WordPress ecosystem building, breaking, and optimizing sites until they actually perform. He works at the intersection of speed, growth, and usability, helping creators ship websites that load fast and convert. An active WordPress community contributor sharing through tools, tutorials, and direct collaboration. Tested practice, not theory.

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Related Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my thumbnails are still not displaying correctly after regenerating them?

If thumbnails are still not displaying correctly, ensure that the PHP Module Imagick is enabled on your server. This module is crucial for image processing in WordPress. If it's disabled, contact your hosting provider to enable it, or follow the steps in your cPanel to enable it manually. Without Imagick, the regeneration process may not function properly.

Are there any limitations to using the Nexter Extension for regenerating thumbnails?

The Nexter Extension is designed to work seamlessly with WordPress, but it requires the Imagick PHP module to function correctly. If your hosting environment does not support Imagick, you may not be able to regenerate thumbnails effectively. Additionally, ensure that your server settings allow for image processing to avoid any interruptions.

What are the best practices for regenerating thumbnails in WordPress?

Best practices for regenerating thumbnails include ensuring that the Imagick module is enabled and selecting the appropriate thumbnail sizes you want to generate. It's also advisable to back up your images before starting the regeneration process, as this can prevent data loss if something goes wrong. Regularly check your Media Library for any images that may need updates after changes to your theme.

Last reviewed: April 14, 2026

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