Divi Registers Its Own Image Sizes
Unlike a standard WordPress theme, Divi registers its own custom image sizes for the Blog module, Portfolio module, WooCommerce product grids, and other elements. When you switch Divi theme options, install a child theme, or upgrade from Divi 4 to Divi 5, these registered sizes can change — and existing thumbnails will no longer match.
The result is that Divi fetches the closest size it can find, which often means serving a larger image than necessary, or one cropped at the wrong ratio.
Using Divi Image Compressor to Regenerate Thumbnails
Divi Image Compressor's Regenerate Thumbnails tool calls WordPress' own wp_generate_attachment_metadata() for each image, which regenerates all registered sizes — including any custom sizes Divi has registered. Crucially, it applies your current quality setting during regeneration, so thumbnails are produced at your chosen quality level, not at WordPress' default.
Step-by-Step: Regenerate After a Divi Update or Theme Change
- Go to DiviPerfect → Image Compressor
- Open the Bulk Compress tab
- Scroll to the Regenerate Thumbnails section
- Click "Regenerate All Thumbnails"
- Monitor the progress bar — you can stop at any time
- Once complete, visit your Divi pages to verify the thumbnails look correct
What About the Divi Blog Module Crop?
The Divi Blog module lets you enable a fixed-height crop in its module settings. When this is turned on, Divi adds its own image size with a fixed height. If you change that height, previously generated crops will be at the old dimensions until you regenerate.
Smart Crop as an Alternative
If you want more control over which part of each image Divi crops, use the Smart Crop & Compress tab. This lets you set exact output dimensions and drag a focal point to choose the crop anchor on a per-image basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Divi Blog module images look different after I updated Divi?
Divi updates can register new image sizes or change existing ones. If the registered dimensions change, WordPress serves the closest existing size, which may be cropped at the old ratio. Regenerating thumbnails forces WordPress to create the sizes at the new dimensions.
Do I need to regenerate thumbnails every time I update Divi?
Not always. Most Divi updates do not change registered image sizes. Regenerate only when you notice thumbnails are the wrong size or ratio after an update.
What is wp_generate_attachment_metadata and why does it matter?
It is the WordPress function that creates all registered thumbnail sizes from an original image. Divi Image Compressor calls it for each image during regeneration, which means it honours whatever image sizes are currently registered — including Divi's.
Can I regenerate thumbnails for just one image?
The Regenerate Thumbnails tool processes the full library. For a single image, use the Smart Crop & Compress tab — selecting an existing media library image and applying a crop also triggers thumbnail regeneration for that image.
Does regenerating thumbnails fix broken images in Divi?
It fixes thumbnails that are the wrong size, wrong crop, or the wrong quality. It will not fix images that are physically missing from disk or that have been deleted from the media library.
Further Reading
For more information on image optimisation and WordPress performance, the following resources are recommended:
Google's reference on LCP, INP, and CLS thresholds.