Feature Unique
A very simple Wordpress plugin to reduce author re-use of feature images. It doesn't prevent or override, but it adds a few simple flags, tools and admin column add-ins that clarify when and where images are being used as feature images in posts.
Install
No release zip yet. The repository archive installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow:
wp plugin install https://github.com/8r4d/wp-featureunique/archive/refs/heads/main.zipReadme
Feature Unique
A WordPress plugin that flags when an image is used as the featured image on more than one post, so you can catch accidental duplicates.
Scope is limited to the post post type.
What it does
- Featured Image box (classic editor): shows a warning under the Featured Image box, with links to every other post already using the selected image.
- Featured Image panel (block editor): same warning, rendered under the Featured Image panel in the sidebar once an image is set.
- "Set/Replace Featured Image" picker (block editor): badges reused thumbnails in the grid, and shows a full warning with linked posts in the details pane when you select one.
- Media modal attachment details: adds a "Featured Image Use" field to the details sidebar shown when browsing/inserting media.
- Posts list table: adds a "Featured Image" column — None / Unique / Duplicate (with links to the other posts).
- Media Library list table: adds a "Used as Featured Image On" column listing every post using that attachment as its featured image.
- Tools → Find Duplicate Featured Images: a report page listing every image used as a featured image on more than one post, with thumbnails and links.
Installation
- Copy this directory into
wp-content/plugins/. - Activate Feature Unique from the Plugins screen in wp-admin.
Requirements
- WordPress 5.8+
- PHP 7.4+
How it works
The plugin builds a per-request map of attachment_id => posts using it as a featured image (querying _thumbnail_id postmeta for the post post type, excluding trashed/auto-draft posts) and reuses that map everywhere above. No data is written or cached outside of a single request.