Clickable Featured Image
Make WordPress featured images clickable. Link post thumbnails to the full-size image, attachment page, or post permalink.
Solid choice
Clickable Featured Image is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 90+ sites, is rated 3.5/5 and was last updated 4 weeks ago, and scores 71/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 4 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (90+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Clickable Featured Image stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| clickable image | #4 |
| featured image | #38 |
| image link | >100 |
| lightbox | >100 |
| post thumbnail | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 3.5 from 2 reviews
About Clickable Featured Image
From the official readme · v1.1.5Description
Clickable Featured Image fixes a common WordPress problem: featured images often look clickable, but nothing happens when visitors click them.
Activate the plugin and featured images become useful links:
- On single posts and pages, featured images link to the full-size image file by default, which works well with common lightbox plugins.
- If the image already displays the full-size file, the plugin leaves it unlinked instead of opening the same image again.
- In Query Loop blocks, featured images link to the post by default.
- In classic theme archive loops, the plugin leaves thumbnail markup to the theme when the theme may add its own post link.
- If a theme or block already links the featured image, the plugin leaves it alone to avoid duplicate links.
The default setup is still zero configuration, but version 1.1.0 adds a small Settings screen for sites that need more control.
Features
- Make post featured images clickable
- Link single-post featured images to the full-size image file
- Skip pointless same-image links when the displayed single featured image is already the full-size image
- Link Query Loop featured images to the post permalink
- Avoid duplicate or nested archive image links when the theme owns the post thumbnail link
- Optional attachment-page or no-link behavior on single posts
- Optional no-link behavior on archives
- Enable only the post types you want
- Works with the core Featured Image block and Query Loop block
- Tested with GeneratePress, Twenty Twenty-Four, and common lightbox workflows
- Lightweight: no front-end JavaScript unless Meow/Lightbox compatibility is needed
When to use it
Use this plugin when:
- Your Query Loop thumbnails should link to posts.
- Your single-post featured image should open in a lightbox.
- Your theme displays featured images but does not make them clickable.
- You want a small plugin instead of a full gallery or lightbox suite.
Settings
Go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image.
Available settings:
- Single posts and pages: full-size image file, attachment page, or do not link.
- Archives and query loops: post permalink or do not link.
- Post types: choose which public post types with featured image support should be affected.
Defaults match the original plugin behavior for single posts and Query Loop blocks. Classic theme archives are handled conservatively so themes can keep their own thumbnail permalink markup without duplicate links.
Installation
For update notifications in WordPress, install Devenia MCP Updater. The updater is optional. You choose which plugins update automatically through WordPress.
- Download https://downloads.devenia.com/clickable-featured-image.zip
- Upload the ZIP through Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Activate the plugin.
- Optional: go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image to adjust link behavior.
Frequently asked questions
Does the plugin have a Settings page?
Yes. Go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image. The defaults work without configuration.
Will this plugin work with my lightbox plugin?
The default single-post behavior links the featured image to the full-size image file, which is the link format many lightbox plugins expect. It has been tested with “Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block” and Meow Lightbox style workflows.
Does this replace a lightbox plugin?
No. This plugin makes featured images clickable. If you want an overlay/modal lightbox, keep using your preferred lightbox plugin.
Will this plugin work with block themes and Query Loop blocks?
Yes. It checks the core Featured Image block and avoids wrapping images that are already linked by the block or theme.
Will this plugin work with any WordPress theme?
It should work with most themes that use standard WordPress featured image output. It has been tested with GeneratePress and Twenty Twenty-Four.
Can I disable it for pages or custom post types?
Yes. Version 1.1.0 adds post type checkboxes on the settings page.
Changelog
Corrects featured-image destinations in Query Loops embedded in single pages and preserves links supplied by the Featured Image block.
1.1.5
- Add one dismissible Plugins-screen reminder when Devenia MCP Updater is missing or inactive, with persistent install or activate links. Automatic updates remain your choice in WordPress.
1.1.4
- Fixed: Query Loop featured images use the post link setting even when the loop appears inside a single post or page.
- Fixed: Featured Image blocks with their own link no longer receive a second link on single pages.
- Fixed: Block context is restored after rendering, including images with missing attachments and nested loops.
1.1.3
- Fixed: Classic theme archive thumbnails are no longer wrapped inside
post_thumbnail_html, preventing invalid nested links when the theme adds the post permalink around the thumbnail. - Improved: Query Loop featured images can still be linked by the plugin when the core Featured Image block is not already linked.
1.1.2
- Improved: Single featured images are no longer linked when the media-file link would open the same image instead of a larger version.
1.1.1
- Fixed: Single featured images now register with Gallery Block Lightbox/baguetteBox when themes render them outside normal image block containers.
1.1.0
- Added: Settings screen for single-post link target, archive link target, and enabled post types.
- Improved: WordPress.org description, screenshots, and positioning around clickable/linkable featured images.
- Improved: Added Text Domain plugin header for translation tooling.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Clickable Featured Image alternatives
All clickable image plugins →FAQ
Clickable Featured Image: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Is Clickable Featured Image free?
Yes. Clickable Featured Image is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Clickable Featured Image safe to use in 2026?
Clickable Featured Image is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 90+ sites, is rated 3.5/5 and was last updated 4 weeks ago, and scores 71/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Clickable Featured Image?
Clickable Featured Image is active on 90+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,021 times since it launched in May 2023. It was downloaded 282 times in the last 30 days.
Does Clickable Featured Image work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested Clickable Featured Image up to WordPress 7.1.3, the latest release. It requires WordPress 5.4 or newer.
What PHP version does Clickable Featured Image need?
Clickable Featured Image requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Clickable Featured Image last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.5, was released on September 16, 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Who makes Clickable Featured Image?
Clickable Featured Image is developed and maintained by Bjorn Solstad.
What are the best alternatives to Clickable Featured Image?
The most popular alternatives to Clickable Featured Image are Shoppable Images (Lookbook)… (6K+ installs) and Papatto Clickable Image Map (10+ installs).
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