The Image settings under the Advanced tab when creating or editing a Source allow you to manage how images are imported and displayed within each item’s content.
Import Featured Image
This setting determines whether the featured image for each item is imported and hosted on your site (as part of your media library) or not.
If you choose not to import the featured image, WP RSS Aggregator will attempt to display the image from its original source, using the original image URL, but this isn’t always reliable.
Featured Image to Use
Select which image should be used as the featured image for each item.
- Auto Detect Best Image: Aggregator automatically detects the best image to use as the featured image based on a number of built-in criteria.
- Best Image in Content: Use the best quality image found within the content.
- First Image in Content: Use the first image found within the content.
- Last Image in Content: Use the last image found within the content.
- iTunes Image: Use the iTunes image, if available.
- Media Image: Use the media image, if available.
- Enclosure Image: Use the enclosure image, if available.
- Social Media Image: Use the social media image, if available.
- Feed Channel Image: Use the feed channel image, if available.
Fallback Image
Set a fallback image to be used if the featured image option you set above is not available for one or more items from this Source. You can upload a new image, such as the logo of your Source website, or select a fallback image from your media library.
Image Size Requirements
Set minimum dimensions for the imported images to avoid using images that are too small.
- Minimum Width: Specify the minimum width in pixels (eg. 80 px).
- Minimum Height: Specify the minimum height in pixels (eg. 80 px).
Ignore Posts Without a Featured Image
This setting allows you to ignore posts that do not have a featured image.
By enabling this option, any posts from the source which do not have a featured image available according to the criteria you set will be skipped and not imported.
Content Images
In this section, you can manage how images within the Post content are handled.
- Import Images to Media Library: Check this box to import images into your WordPress media library rather than fetching them from the original source’s website every time.
- Hide Featured Image in Content: Check this box to hide the featured image within the content. This option is used to avoid showing duplicates of the same image, such as when using the “First image in Content” option for the featured image.
- Import All Sizes: Check this box to import all available sizes of the images from the Source.
Image Filenames
When images are imported into your Media Library, Aggregator keeps the filename from the original image URL (for example, concert-poster.jpg) instead of saving it under a generic temporary name. Query strings and tracking parameters are stripped from the name, missing or unusual file extensions are corrected to the image’s actual type, and images without a usable source filename receive a stable fallback name. This keeps your Media Library organized and preserves image SEO. Filenames of previously imported images are not changed.
Image Alt Text
Imported images also keep their alt text. When an image in the source content has alt text, it is saved on the Media Library attachment, and the featured image gets the same alt text when it comes from the imported content. If the source provides no alt text, Aggregator generates a readable fallback from the image filename — but only when the filename is meaningful. Generic or machine-like names (such as IMG_0517.jpeg or numeric CDN filenames) are left with empty alt text rather than creating misleading descriptions.
Alt text that you have edited manually on an existing attachment is never overwritten when the same image is imported again. Additionally, when a feed describes the same image in several ways (for example in the content, media data, and enclosure), Aggregator now imports it as a single attachment instead of creating duplicate copies.
These settings provide flexibility in managing images for imported content, ensuring that the visual elements of your site are consistent and appealing while keeping your site performant.
