Media Optimization gives you one place inside ByTheWeb AI to review and manage image metadata across your WordPress Media Library.
You can identify images that require attention, edit their metadata manually for free, or use ByTheWeb AI to analyze an existing image and generate new metadata.
The supported WordPress image fields are:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
For a product overview, see:
Image Metadata Optimization Feature Overview
Where Is Media Optimization?
In WordPress, open:
ByTheWeb AI > Media Opt.
The full page title is:
Media Optimization
The screen provides two main views:
- Images Requiring Attention
- All Images
What Does Media Optimization Analyze?
ByTheWeb AI reviews image attachments in the WordPress Media Library.
For each image, the system can check selected metadata conditions such as:
- Missing Alt Text
- Missing Title
- Missing Caption
- Missing Description
- Description is too short
You control which of these conditions should count as an issue.
What Does “Images Requiring Attention” Mean?
An image appears under:
Images Requiring Attention
when it matches at least one of the issue types currently enabled in your Image Settings.
This does not mean the image is broken.
It means that one or more of the metadata conditions you selected requires attention.
What Is the Default Analysis?
The current default Media Optimization analysis checks for:
- Missing Alt Text
- Missing Caption
You can change the analysis criteria at any time.
Change the Analysis Settings
Open:
ByTheWeb AI > Settings > Images
and find:
Filter by Issue Type
The current available issue types are:
- Missing Alt Text
- Missing Title
- Missing Caption
- Missing Description
- Description is too short
Select the conditions you want ByTheWeb AI to use when building the Images Requiring Attention list.
Then save the settings.
What Does “Description Is Too Short” Mean?
When this issue type is enabled, ByTheWeb AI considers an existing image Description too short when it contains fewer than 5 words.
This check applies only when the Description is not completely empty.
A completely empty Description is handled separately by:
Missing Description
The Issue Settings Do Not Change Your Existing Metadata
Changing the selected issue types changes which images are identified as requiring attention.
It does not automatically modify the image metadata itself.
For example, disabling Missing Caption as an issue does not delete or add any Caption.
It only stops a missing Caption from being used as a reason to place the image in the attention list.
Filter Images by Issue Type
Inside:
Images Requiring Attention
you can filter the list by the issue types that are currently enabled.
Depending on your settings, the available filters can include:
- Missing Title
- Missing Caption
- Missing Alt Text
- Missing Description
- Description is too short
Each available filter displays the number of images currently matching that condition.
View All Images
Select:
All Images
if you want to review images regardless of whether they currently match the attention criteria.
This lets you edit metadata for an existing image even when the image is not currently identified as having a configured issue.
What Are the Four Image Fields?
Each image card contains the normal WordPress metadata fields managed by the feature.
Alt Text
Alt Text is stored as the WordPress image alternative text.
You can enter or edit it directly from Media Optimization.
Title
Title is the WordPress attachment title.
You can edit it directly from the Media Optimization screen.
Caption
Caption is the WordPress attachment caption.
Whether a Caption is visibly displayed on the frontend depends on how the image is used and how the website theme or content layout handles captions.
Description
Description is the WordPress attachment Description.
It is stored with the media attachment and can be edited from the Media Optimization screen.
Is Manual Media Optimization Free?
Yes.
You can review and manually edit:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
without using AI credits.
After editing the fields manually, select:
Save Changes
to save the updated values to WordPress.
Manual Media Optimization does not require AI generation.
For the broader distinction between free functionality and AI credits, see:
Saving Changes Is Required
Changing text inside the Media Optimization fields does not complete the update until you select:
Save Changes
This applies whether you:
- Enter the text manually
- Modify existing text
- Review and edit values returned by AI
After saving, ByTheWeb re-evaluates the image against the configured attention criteria.
If the image no longer matches an enabled issue, it no longer needs to remain in the Images Requiring Attention list.
Generate Metadata with AI
If you want ByTheWeb AI to analyze an existing image and prepare metadata automatically, select:
Generate with AI
for that image.
This is a Cloud AI action and requires:
- A connected ByTheWeb API Key
- Enough available AI credits
- The required WordPress permissions
For API setup, see:
How Much Does AI Image Metadata Generation Cost?
The current standalone Image Metadata Generator cost is:
185 Credits per image
The current value is managed centrally by ByTheWeb.
For the complete current credit table, see:
Choose Which Fields AI Should Update
Before running AI generation, each image provides:
Select fields to update
The available selections are:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
All four are selected by default.
You can deselect any field that you do not want replaced by the generated result.
Does Selecting Fewer Fields Reduce the Credit Cost?
No separate per-field price is used by the current Media Optimization workflow.
Generate with AI analyzes the image as one Image Metadata Generator action.
The current credit cost therefore applies per image-generation request, while the field checkboxes control which returned values are placed into the editable fields.
What Happens When I Select “Generate with AI”?
Before the request is sent, ByTheWeb displays the current credit cost and asks you to approve the action.
After approval:
- ByTheWeb sends the existing image for analysis through the supported Cloud workflow.
- The AI returns generated metadata.
- ByTheWeb fills the fields you selected.
- The generated values remain editable on the Media Optimization screen.
- You must select Save Changes to store the approved values in WordPress.
AI generation does not remove your ability to review or change the generated text.
What Data Is Sent for Image Analysis?
For AI-assisted metadata generation, the current ByTheWeb AI workflow sends the URL of the image being analyzed.
Authenticated requests also use the connected:
- API Key
- Website domain
and the request includes the site language used by the image-analysis workflow.
For current service information, see:
and:
Does AI Immediately Overwrite My WordPress Metadata?
The generated values are first placed into the editable fields on the Media Optimization screen.
You can review or modify them.
The WordPress attachment metadata is updated when you select:
Save Changes
This gives you a review step before the generated values are stored.
What Happens to Fields I Did Not Select?
The AI response is only placed into the fields selected under:
Select fields to update
If you leave an individual field unchecked, the Media Optimization interface does not replace that field with the returned AI value during that generation action.
Can I Edit Only One Field Manually?
Yes.
You do not have to update all four fields at once.
You can change only the field you want and select:
Save Changes
The saved values are written back to the corresponding WordPress media attachment.
Can I Use Media Optimization Without an API Key?
Yes, for manual optimization.
Without a connected API Key, you can still:
- Review the images
- View Images Requiring Attention
- Use the issue filters
- Edit Alt Text
- Edit Title
- Edit Caption
- Edit Description
- Save your manual changes
A connected API Key is required only when you want to use the Cloud AI metadata-generation action.
Does Media Optimization Create New Images?
No.
Media Optimization works only with existing WordPress image attachments. It analyzes and manages metadata for images that are already stored in your Media Library.
It does not generate new images.
Does the Dashboard Show Media Optimization Issues?
Yes.
The current ByTheWeb AI Dashboard uses the Media Optimization issue count for its image-related status.
The ByTheWeb AI menu can also display a badge when images currently require attention according to your configured issue criteria.
The count is based on the same Media Optimization analysis.
Why Can My Attention Count Change After I Change the Settings?
The attention count depends on the issue types currently enabled under:
ByTheWeb AI > Settings > Images
For example, if you add Missing Title to the analysis criteria, images with no attachment Title can now be included in the attention count.
If you remove an issue type, images that matched only that condition may no longer be counted.
Why Did an Image Remain in “Requires Attention” After AI Generation?
Generating metadata and saving metadata are separate steps.
After Generate with AI fills the fields, you still need to select:
Save Changes
The Media Optimization screen itself marks this as a required step.
If the values have not been saved, the underlying WordPress attachment metadata has not yet been updated through the Media Optimization save action.
Why Is an Image Still Listed After I Saved It?
An image can have more than one configured issue.
For example, fixing its Alt Text does not necessarily remove it from the attention list if your settings also check for:
- Missing Caption
- Missing Description
- Missing Title
- Description is too short
Review the active issue criteria and the remaining metadata fields.
What Happens When There Are No Images Requiring Attention?
When no images match the current attention criteria, Media Optimization displays:
Everything looks great!
and:
No images found requiring attention based on the criteria.
You can still select:
Show all images anyway
to review the full image library.
Who Can Access Media Optimization?
The Media Optimization administration page requires the WordPress:
edit_posts
capability.
Saving metadata for a specific attachment also checks whether the current user is allowed to edit that specific WordPress attachment.
For the complete permission model, see:
User Access Control & Permissions
Where Are the Saved Values Stored?
Media Optimization updates the corresponding WordPress attachment data.
The current workflow stores:
- Alt Text in the WordPress attachment Alt Text field
- Title as the attachment Title
- Caption as the attachment Caption
- Description as the attachment Description
These are normal WordPress media values.
What Happens If I Deactivate ByTheWeb AI Later?
Metadata that has already been saved to WordPress remains with the WordPress media attachment.
Deactivating ByTheWeb AI does not itself delete the saved:
- Alt Text
- Title
- Caption
- Description
The Media Optimization interface and new AI generation actions are provided by the plugin, but the previously saved WordPress attachment metadata remains.
What Happens If My Credits or Subscription End?
Existing image metadata already saved in WordPress is not deleted when:
- AI credits run out
- A trial ends
- A subscription ends
You can also continue editing normal WordPress media metadata manually.
New AI-assisted metadata generation requires the applicable ByTheWeb Cloud connection and enough available AI credits.
Media Optimization Does Not Change the Image File Itself
The Media Optimization workflow described here manages the WordPress metadata associated with an image.
It does not replace the image file, resize it, compress it, or create a new image.
Recommended Workflow
A simple Media Optimization workflow is:
- Open ByTheWeb AI > Settings > Images.
- Choose which metadata conditions should count as issues.
- Open ByTheWeb AI > Media Opt.
- Start with Images Requiring Attention.
- Filter by issue type if needed.
- Review the existing Alt Text, Title, Caption, and Description.
- Edit the values manually for free, or select the fields you want AI to update.
- Select Generate with AI if you want AI assistance.
- Review and edit the generated values.
- Select Save Changes.
- Continue with the next image requiring attention.
Summary
Media Optimization provides two ways to manage existing WordPress images.
Manual workflow:
- Review images requiring attention.
- Edit Alt Text, Title, Caption, or Description yourself.
- Save the changes.
- No AI credits are used.
AI-assisted workflow:
- Select an existing image.
- Choose which fields AI should update.
- Approve the Image Metadata Generator credit cost.
- Let ByTheWeb AI analyze the image.
- Review or edit the generated values.
- Select Save Changes.
The image remains a normal WordPress Media Library item throughout the process.
Where Should I Go Next?
For the product overview:
Image Metadata Optimization Feature Overview
For current AI credit costs:
For Media Optimization problems: