Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Avoid Image Download on WordPress Website

If you own a WordPress website, it's probable that you would like to protect the images from being downloaded and used without your consent. Unfortunately, the internet is full of people who may try to steal your content or use your images without your permission. However, you can take steps to prevent this from happening. So, here are some easy methods to restrict image downloading from your WordPress website.

1. Disable Right-Click Function

One of the quickest ways to prevent image downloading on WordPress is to disable the right-click function. When users right-click on an image, it opens a context menu that shows download options. To disable the right-click function, you can use a plugin called "WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click." This plugin allows you to block right-clicking on images, text, videos, and other content on your site.

2. Add Watermark to Images

Adding a watermark to your images can make it tough for users to remove and use them without your consent. A watermark is a symbol, logo, or text placed on images that indicates ownership. If someone tries to remove it, the image might become distorted, blurry, or lose its quality. You can install the plugins like "Easy Watermark" and "Image Watermark" to add a watermark to images.

3. Use CSS to Protect Images

You can use CSS to disable right-click functionality on your website, which will stop the download option on your images. To do this, add the following CSS code to your website:

img { -webkit-touch-callout: none; -webkit-user-select: none; -khtml-user-select: none; -moz-user-select: none; -ms-user-select: none; user-select: none; }

Once you add the CSS code on your website, users won't be able to right-click on the images.

4. Modifying .htaccess File

Modifying the .htaccess file is an advanced method that you can use to prevent hotlinking of your images. Hotlinking is when someone tries to display an image on their site by adding the URL of your image without your permission. To avoid hotlinking, add the following code to your .htaccess file:

RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$ RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http(s)?://(www\.)?yourdomain.com [NC] RewriteRule \.(jpg|jpeg|png|gif)$ - [NC,F,L]

Conclusion

In summary, these are some effective ways to prevent image downloads on your WordPress website. You can select any of these methods, or you can use a combination of methods to ensure maximum protection. By doing so, you can prevent your images from getting stolen or used without your permission.