Similar to DNS prefetching, image preloading/prefetching with JavaScript to get faster page loading experience.
| Author: | tiptinker (profile at wordpress.org) |
| WordPress version required: | 5.0 |
| WordPress version tested: | 6.9.4 |
| Plugin version: | 2.0.0 |
| Added to WordPress repository: | 29-06-2017 |
| Last updated: | 27-03-2026 |
| Rating, %: | 74 |
| Rated by: | 3 |
| Plugin URI: | https://github.com/snowbedding/image-preloadi... |
| Total downloads: | 3 080 |
| Active installs: | 50+ |
 Click to start download |
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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
FAQ
ChangeLog