Featured Image from URL (FIFU)
Featured images from URLs, without uploading image files Featured Image from URL (FIFU) lets you use an image hosted elsewhere as the featured image for a WordPress post, page, or supported custom post type. It also lets you set WooCommerce product images directly from image URLs. Paste an image URL into FIFU instead of uploading the original file to your WordPress Media Library. The image is displayed from its existing location, while FIFU integrates it with WordPress featured image and post thumbnail functionality. Why use FIFU? Save storage space: Keep original image files on their existing servers instead of copying them to your WordPress hosting. Simplify content imports: Assign featured images using URLs without downloading each original image. Manage images easily: Preview and change featured image URLs in the editor or Quick Edit. Use images with WooCommerce: Assign remote images to products and product categories. Automate repetitive tasks: Set featured images from post content, WP-CLI, or developer functions. Control image display: Configure alt text, default images, presentation options, and fallbacks for broken URLs. FIFU has helped WordPress websites use remote featured images since 2015. How to add a featured image from a URL Edit a post, page, or WooCommerce product in WordPress. Paste a direct, publicly accessible image URL into the FIFU featured image field. Preview the image and save or update the content. The original image stays on its source server. Make sure that server permits the image to be displayed on your website. FREE: Featured images and image settings Featured image from URL: Use an external image as the featured image for posts, pages, and supported custom post types. Image alt text: Set alternative text for a remote featured image without uploading the file. Optimized Images: Configure FIFU’s image optimization and display options for remote images. Square images: Present images in a square format using FIFU’s square image option. Unsplash image search: Search Unsplash for an image and use its URL as featured media. Default featured image: Display a chosen image when a post or page has no featured image. Hide Featured Media: Hide featured media where FIFU controls its display. Post content settings: Control how FIFU adds or displays featured media within post content. Automatic image title: Set image titles automatically using FIFU’s title setting. Featured image admin column: View featured image information in WordPress content lists. Quick Edit: Preview, change, or remove a remote featured image without opening the full editor. Disable right-click: Disable the right-click context menu on frontend images. This does not prevent visitors from downloading images. Replace Not Found Image: Display a fallback when a remote image fails to load, without changing the saved image URL. FREE: Category and taxonomy images Category image from URL: Set an external image for supported WordPress categories and taxonomy terms. Category image alt text: Add alternative text to supported category images. FREE: WooCommerce product images Product image from URL: Set a WooCommerce product’s main image using an external image URL. Product category images: Use remote images for WooCommerce product categories. Product image lightbox: Use WooCommerce’s image lightbox with compatible remote product images. Product image zoom: Use WooCommerce’s image zoom with compatible remote product images. Multiple-image product galleries, video galleries, and variation image galleries require FIFU PRO. FREE: Automation and integrations Featured image from post content: Automatically use an image found in a post’s content as its featured image. WP-CLI: Manage featured images using FIFU’s command-line functionality. Developer functions: Set post and category image URLs programmatically using FIFU’s public functions. Elementor featured image widget: Display featured images through FIFU’s Elementor widget. Gravity Forms featured image field: Add a featured image field to compatible Gravity Forms workflows. Dokan featured image field: Enter a featured image URL through compatible Dokan forms. FIFU PRO: Featured videos Use a video URL as featured media on supported WordPress content. Featured videos are available in FIFU PRO, not FIFU Free. Featured video from URL: Set an external video as the featured media for a post or page. Video thumbnails: Show an image preview for featured videos. Play button: Add a play button to video previews. Playback controls: Configure available video player controls. Autoplay: Start playback automatically when permitted by the browser. Autoplay on mouseover: Play a video when the visitor moves the pointer over it. Loop: Replay a video automatically when it ends. Mute: Start or play a video without sound. Watch Later: Enable the Watch Later option for compatible featured videos. Minimum width: Set a minimum width for featured video display. Video playback depends on the video provider, browser policies, and the theme or player used on the page. FIFU PRO: WooCommerce galleries and product variations Remote product image galleries: Add multiple externally hosted images to a WooCommerce product gallery. Product video galleries: Include videos in WooCommerce product galleries. FIFU product gallery: Use FIFU PRO’s own product gallery interface. Variable product images: Manage remote images for WooCommerce variable products. Variation images: Assign external image URLs to individual product variations. Variation image galleries: Add multiple images to individual product variations. Automatic product category images: Assign WooCommerce product category images automatically. Quick Buy: Add FIFU PRO’s Quick Buy functionality to compatible product displays. Images in order emails: Include product images in WooCommerce order emails. Download to Media Library: Optionally save remote images as local WordPress media files. FIFU PRO: WP All Import and WooCommerce imports WP All Import add-on: Assign featured media from image URLs supplied in WP All Import data. WooCommerce import features: Use FIFU PRO’s tools to handle remote product images during compatible imports. Advanced REST API integration: Manage featured media through FIFU PRO’s REST API features. FIFU Free already supports manually entered product image URLs, featured images from post content, WP-CLI, and the Free developer functions. FIFU PRO: Automatic featured media Search engine image search: Find images through FIFU PRO’s search engine image options. Title-based image search: Use a post’s title to search for a featured image. Web page URL: Find featured media using a web page address. ASIN: Find product images using an Amazon Standard Identification Number. Custom fields: Read image or media URLs from custom fields. Website screenshots: Use a screenshot of a web page as featured media. Automatic social sharing: Use FIFU PRO’s automatic social sharing options. FIFU PRO: Galleries, sliders, and audio Remote image galleries: Display several externally hosted images in a gallery. Remote video galleries: Display multiple videos in a gallery. Featured sliders: Use a slider as featured media instead of a single image. Featured audio: Use audio as featured media on compatible content. FIFU PRO: Additional integrations and controls Elementor featured video widget: Display featured videos with FIFU’s Elementor widget. Gravity Forms video field: Add a featured video field to compatible Gravity Forms workflows. Gravity Forms slider field: Add a featured slider field to compatible Gravity Forms workflows. Dokan product gallery field: Manage product gallery media through compatible Dokan forms. bbPress and BuddyBoss Platform: Use FIFU PRO’s integrations with these community platforms. Custom popups: Configure popup display for featured media. Page redirection: Configure page redirects using FIFU PRO’s redirection feature. Shortcodes: Insert FIFU media using the available PRO shortcodes. Developer functions Use these public functions to assign featured media programmatically. Functions marked [PRO] require FIFU PRO. Featured image [FREE]: fifu_dev_set_image($post_id, $image_url) Category image [FREE]: fifu_dev_set_category_image($term_id, $image_url) Featured video [PRO]: fifu_dev_set_video($post_id, $video_url) Featured slider [PRO]: fifu_dev_set_slider($post_id, $url_list, $alt_list) Image list [PRO]: fifu_dev_set_image_list($post_id, $image_url_list) Video list [PRO]: fifu_dev_set_video_list($post_id, $video_url_list) Category video [PRO]: fifu_dev_set_category_video($term_id, $video_url) FIFU Cloud: Optional image service FIFU Cloud is a separate, optional service for managing and delivering images. Its features include: Cloud storage: Store images in the cloud. Global CDN: Deliver images through a content delivery network. Optimized thumbnails: Generate optimized thumbnails through the cloud service. Scheduled uploads and deletions: Schedule cloud image management tasks. Hotlink protection: Use cloud hotlink protection features. FIFU Cloud is not required to use external featured images in FIFU Free. Try FIFU Online: Free and PRO Demos Want to see FIFU in action? Try the Free plugin on a temporary WordPress site, explore the PRO demo, or learn about premium features and pricing. FIFU Free demo: Try FIFU Free on TasteWP FIFU PRO demo: Explore the FIFU PRO demo FIFU PRO features and pricing: Learn more about FIFU PRO
