At its core, SVG Support lets you upload SVG files and use them like any regular image — with the added benefit that SVGs are scalable, look crisp at any size, and are usually much smaller than conventional image formats.
Why doesn't WordPress allow SVGs by default?
SVG files are actually XML code, which means a malicious SVG can carry scripts. That's why WordPress blocks them out of the box. SVG Support enables SVG uploads the safe way: every upload is automatically sanitized to strip potentially harmful code before it reaches your media library.
Step 1 — Install and activate
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for “SVG Support”.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
Prefer a different route? Download the ZIP from WordPress.org, or try it without touching your site using the live WordPress Playground demo or a free throwaway site via TasteWP.
Step 2 — Upload your first SVG
That's it, really: go to Media → Add New (or drag a file into any media picker) and upload an SVG like you would a JPG or PNG. It works seamlessly with:
- Image blocks
- Cover blocks
- Featured images
- Widgets, galleries, and the Classic Editor
What happens on upload
Every SVG (and compressed .svgz) you upload is run through the built-in sanitizer, which removes script tags, event handlers, and other potentially harmful code while leaving your artwork untouched. You can optionally enable minification to shrink files on upload, and front-end sanitization for defense in depth.
Next steps
Using SVGs as regular images is just the beginning. Enable Advanced Mode to render SVGs inline — which unlocks CSS styling, animation, links inside SVGs, and more.