Where are my image backups stored?
1 min read · Last updated June 2026
SlashImage saves a copy of each original image before it replaces it with the optimized version. Backups live in your WordPress uploads folder, in a subfolder named slash-image-backups:
wp-content/uploads/slash-image-backups/Inside it, backups mirror your uploads by year and month, so an image uploaded in March 2026 has its backup under 2026/03. These backups are what make it possible to restore an original.
Settings that control backups
Both are in the Backups section at Media > SlashImage.
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Keep backup of originals | Saves a copy of every original before it is replaced. Turn it off and new optimizations stop creating backups. | On |
| Auto-delete backups | Deletes backups older than the number of days you set. Set it to 0 to keep them forever. | 90 days |
The help text for Keep backup of originals reads "Saves a copy of every original under uploads/slash-image-backups/ before it is replaced." For Auto-delete backups it reads "Delete backups older than this many days. Set to 0 to keep them forever."
Delete all backups
To clear every backup at once, go to Media > SlashImage, open the Settings tab, scroll to the Danger Zone, and click Delete all under Delete all backups. Its help text reads "Permanent. Removes every file under uploads/slash-image-backups/ and clears the backup index. You will not be able to restore originals after this."