Squarespace Images Still Flagged in PageSpeed Insights
TL;DR:
- Google PageSpeed Insights flags Squarespace images even when they're WebP format
- Fallback images and third-party content cause most warnings
- Upload WebP images directly and resize them before uploading
- Check individual pages after updates to catch new issues
- Proper image optimisation improves both speed and SEO rankings
Google PageSpeed Insights can be frustrating when it keeps flagging your Squarespace images, even though you know Squarespace serves WebP format automatically. Here's why this happens and how to fix it.
Why PageSpeed Still Complains About Your Images
PageSpeed Insights doesn't always see the WebP versions that Squarespace serves to most visitors. Two things usually cause the warnings:
Fallback images – Squarespace serves JPEG or PNG versions to older browsers that don't support WebP. PageSpeed Insights sometimes catches these fallback versions instead of the optimised ones.
Third-party images – Any images you're pulling from outside Squarespace (like social media embeds, external galleries, or hotlinked images) won't get Squarespace's automatic WebP treatment.
Getting Your Images Past PageSpeed Tests
The most reliable approach is uploading WebP images directly to Squarespace. This gives you WebP for modern browsers and WebP fallbacks for older ones, rather than reverting to heavier formats.
Resize before uploading – Don't rely on Squarespace to resize massive images. If your layout displays images at 800px wide, upload them at that size (or up to 1600px for retina displays). Squarespace still has to process oversized images even when it scales them down.
Compress your images – Use tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to reduce file sizes before uploading. Squarespace's built-in compression helps, but starting with smaller files gives better results.
Check third-party content – Review any embedded content or external images. Replace hotlinked images with properly uploaded versions where possible.
After making changes, test individual pages rather than just your homepage. Different page templates and content types can behave differently in PageSpeed tests.
FAQs
Why does PageSpeed Insights flag WebP images on Squarespace?
PageSpeed sometimes detects the fallback JPEG/PNG versions that Squarespace serves to older browsers, or it's finding third-party images that aren't optimised.
Should I upload WebP images directly to Squarespace?
Yes, uploading WebP images gives you better control over the formats served and typically results in smaller file sizes across all browsers.
Will fixing these image warnings actually speed up my site?
Properly optimised images do improve loading times, especially on mobile connections. The speed improvement helps both user experience and search rankings.
Jargon Buster
WebP format – A modern image format that creates smaller files than JPEG or PNG while maintaining the same visual quality.
Google PageSpeed Insights – Google's free tool for testing website speed and getting optimisation suggestions.
Fallback images – Alternative image formats served to browsers that don't support the preferred format.
Wrap-up
PageSpeed Insights warnings about images don't mean Squarespace is broken. The platform does optimise images automatically, but you'll get better results by uploading properly sized WebP images yourself. Focus on the images that actually matter for your site's performance, and don't stress about perfect PageSpeed scores if your site already loads quickly for real visitors.
Ready to dive deeper into Squarespace performance optimisation? Join the Pixelhaze Academy for detailed guides and expert support.