Featured Background
Set a featured image as the background for individual posts or pages with advanced options like parallax, overlays, and more.
Consider an alternative
Featured Background shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 20+ sites, is rated 4/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 37/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (20+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
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 Featured Background stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| background | #68 |
| custom background | #87 |
| featured image | >100 |
| page background | >100 |
| post background | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4 from 4 reviews
About Featured Background
From the official readme · v1.0Description
Featured Background is a lightweight WordPress plugin that lets you set a custom background image for specific posts or pages using the built-in featured image functionality. Now enhanced with expanded options for customization, parallax effects via CSS, overlay colors, custom post type support, Gutenberg sidebar integration, and UI improvements.
Key Features
- Expanded Background Options: Customize position, repeat, size, attachment, and fallback color.
- Parallax Effect: Simple CSS-based parallax (using fixed attachment) with an optional toggle.
- Overlay Color and Opacity: Add a semi-transparent overlay for better text readability.
- Custom Post Type Support: Enable the meta box on any public CPT via a settings page.
- Gutenberg Integration: Dedicated plugin sidebar in the block editor for seamless configuration.
- UI Improvements: Added “Remove Image” button and live preview in the meta box.
- Simple Integration: Easily upload or select an image via the WordPress media library.
- Automatic CSS Injection: Injects inline CSS into the header with options applied to the
bodyelement. - Admin Preview: Live preview in the editor.
- Secure and Efficient: Nonces, sanitization, conditional enqueuing.
- Clean Uninstall: Removes all data on deletion.
- Modern Compatibility: Tested with WordPress 6.8.2 and PHP 8+.
Ideal for personalizing backgrounds per page. The CSS includes comments for identification.
Report issues on the support forum.
Installation
Minimum Requirements
- WordPress 6.0 or higher
- PHP 7.4 or higher
Automatic Installation
- Go to your WordPress dashboard: Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “Featured Background”.
- Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”.
Manual Installation
- Download the plugin ZIP file from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Upload the ZIP file and click “Install Now”.
- Activate the plugin.
After activation:
1. Go to Settings > Featured Background to select supported post types.
2. Edit a supported post or page.
3. Use the “Featured Background” meta box or Gutenberg sidebar to set options.
4. Save or update the post/page—the background will apply automatically on the front end.
If permalinks or caching issues arise, flush your site’s cache and regenerate permalinks via Settings > Permalinks.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn’t the background showing?
Check image selection, save the post, and theme conflicts—some themes may override body backgrounds with their own CSS. Clear your browser cache and test with a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
How do I enable on custom post types?
Go to Settings > Featured Background and select them from the list of public post types.
Does this work with Gutenberg?
Yes, via a dedicated sidebar panel in the block editor.
How does the parallax work?
It’s a simple CSS effect using background-attachment: fixed when toggled on.
Can I adjust the overlay?
Yes, choose the color and opacity (0-1) directly in the editor.
How do I remove the image?
Use the “Remove Image” button in the meta box or Gutenberg sidebar.
Does the plugin collect data?
No, it doesn’t track usage or collect personal data. All settings are stored locally in your database as post meta. For more questions, check the support forum.
Changelog
Major feature additions including parallax, overlays, CPT support, and Gutenberg integration. Back up your site before upgrading. Test on a staging site if possible.
1.0
- Released: September 04, 2025
- Added expanded background options (position, repeat, size, attachment, fallback color).
- Implemented simple CSS parallax (fixed attachment toggle).
- Added custom post type support via settings page.
- Added overlay color and opacity.
- Integrated Gutenberg plugin sidebar.
- Added “Remove Image” button and UI improvements.
- Updated JS for color pickers and Gutenberg.
- Bumped version and tested up to 6.8.2.
- Enhanced uninstall to cover new meta.\
- Major overhaul for modern compatibility.
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 Featured Background alternatives
All background plugins →
FAQ
Featured Background: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Is Featured Background free?
Yes. Featured Background is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Featured Background safe to use in 2026?
Featured Background shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 20+ sites, is rated 4/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 37/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Featured Background?
Featured Background is active on 20+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,128 times since it launched in October 2014. It was downloaded 61 times in the last 30 days.
Does Featured Background work with WordPress 7.1?
Featured Background is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.11, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Featured Background need?
Featured Background requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Featured Background last updated?
The latest version, 1.0, was released on September 4, 2025 (1 year ago).
Who makes Featured Background?
Featured Background is developed and maintained by Schwarttzy.
What are the best alternatives to Featured Background?
The most popular alternatives to Featured Background are Advanced WordPress Backgrou… (30K+ installs), Simple Full Screen Backgrou… (10K+ installs) and Media Focus Point (6K+ installs).
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