Descripción
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.
- On archive pages, category pages, search results, and Query Loop blocks, featured images link to the post by default.
- 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
- Link archive and Query Loop featured images to the post permalink
- 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 blog archive 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: single posts link to the full-size image and archive images link to the post.
Capturas
Featured image on a single post linking to the full-size image for lightbox use. 
Featured images in an archive or Query Loop linking to their posts. 
Settings screen for single-post behavior, archive behavior, and post types.
Instalación
- Install the plugin from Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin.
- Activate the plugin.
- Optional: go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image to adjust link behavior.
FAQ
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Does the plugin have a Settings page?
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Yes. Go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image. The defaults work without configuration.
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Will this plugin work with my lightbox plugin?
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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.
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Does this replace a lightbox plugin?
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No. This plugin makes featured images clickable. If you want an overlay/modal lightbox, keep using your preferred lightbox plugin.
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Will this plugin work with block themes and Query Loop blocks?
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Yes. It checks the core Featured Image block and avoids wrapping images that are already linked by the block or theme.
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Will this plugin work with any WordPress theme?
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It should work with most themes that use standard WordPress featured image output. It has been tested with GeneratePress and Twenty Twenty-Four.
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Can I disable it for pages or custom post types?
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Yes. Version 1.1.0 adds post type checkboxes on the settings page.
Reseñas
Colaboradores y desarrolladores
"Clickable Featured Image" es un software de código abierto. Las siguientes personas han colaborado con este plugin.
Colaboradores
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Registro de cambios
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.
1.0.13
- Fixed: Archive featured images using medium sizes no longer inherit browser
sizes="auto"behavior that can render later lazy-loaded images much larger than the theme-requested size.
1.0.12
- Fixed: Explicitly reserves the configured WordPress thumbnail dimensions for archive thumbnails, preventing lazy-loaded images from expanding to full archive width before load.
1.0.11
- Fixed: Archive image links no longer force featured images to full container width, preserving theme-requested thumbnail sizes in GeneratePress archives.
1.0.9
- Fixed: Let Meow Lightbox re-register singular featured images by using
wp-image-<id>classes instead of pre-settingdata-mwl-img-id
1.0.8
- Fixed: Register singular featured-image containers with Meow Lightbox when themes render them outside
.entry-content
1.0.7
- Fixed: Add
data-mwl-img-idto singular featured images for Meow Lightbox compatibility
1.0.6
- Fixed: Prevent duplicate anchor tags on query loops when theme already wraps featured images
1.0.5
- Fixed: Added CSS to prevent layout spacing issues on archive pages with Twenty Twenty-Four theme
1.0.4
- Fixed: Avoid wrapping full block markup on archives by linking only the image/picture, reducing theme layout spacing issues
1.0.3
- Fixed: No longer breaks archive page links when theme already wraps images in links
- Fixed: Added proper URL escaping for security
- Tested compatibility with WordPress 6.9
- Updated minimum PHP requirement to 7.4
1.0.2
Fixed a syntax error in the plugin code that caused a parse error.
1.0.1
Updated stable tag and function names to follow guidelines for the Clickable Featured Image WordPress Plugin.
1.0
Initial release