---
title: How to use Magic Post Thumbnail
description: Activate, Dashboard, Source chain, Automatic placement, then generate from the editor, posts list, bulk, taxonomies or MPT Images.
url: "https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/how-to-use-magic-post-thumbnail/"
updated: "2026-08-16"
category: Setup the plugin
---

# How to use Magic Post Thumbnail

After activation, work in this order. There is **no** *Magic Post Thumbnail → Posts → Relevant post type* page anymore — that screen is gone.

1. Activate the plugin.
2. Open **Magic Post Thumbnail → Dashboard**. Confirm **Your configuration** is **Ready to generate** (or fix **Needs attention**). Optionally click **Generate a test image**. Details: [Dashboard](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/dashboard/).
3. Open **Source**. Build the **Automatic generation chain** (drag to set priority) and enter API keys. This chain is used by the editor button, bulk, cron and imports — **not** by Gutenberg search. See [Settings : Source](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/settings-source/).
4. Open **Settings** (page title **Settings [Automatic]**). Under **Image Placement**, choose **Featured Image** and/or **Inline content**. **Brand overlay** is **Disabled** by default. **Style** applies to AI banks only. See [Settings : Automatic](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/general-settings/).
5. Generate from the editor, the posts list, bulk actions, taxonomies, or the **MPT Images** block.

If you leave **Source** or **Settings** with unsaved edits, the plugin shows **Unsaved changes**: “You have unsaved settings. Save them before leaving this page?” Choose **Save changes**, **Leave without saving**, or **Cancel**.

![Unsaved changes dialog — Save changes, Leave without saving, Cancel](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unsaved-modal.png)

![Magic Post Thumbnail Dashboard — Your configuration health checks and Generate a test image](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dashboard-health.png)

[YouTube video player](https://www.youtube.com/embed/mC6qimwnT4E?si=BpO4wFZkoURx2x0j)

##  

## Editor: Generate Automatically / Generate Manually

On a post, page or custom post type, the featured image box shows **Generate Automatically**. Click it to run the saved Source chain.

If **Display manual search for featured image** is on (Gutenberg Block settings), Gutenberg also shows **Generate Manually**, which opens photo search (same as the **MPT Images** block).

While a job runs, the button label becomes **Generation**. If the first bank is AI, you may see: “AI image generation may take 10 to 60 seconds. Please be patient.”

![Generate Automatically and Generate Manually](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/gutenberg-featured.png)

## Posts list: MPT column

![posts list MPT](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/post-list.png)

On **Posts → All Posts** (and other supported types), the **MPT** column shows the featured image.

- **Generate** — no featured image yet.
- **Regenerate** — replace it. Regeneration picks a **different** result.

Click the thumbnail to **Open in Media Library**.

 

## Bulk: Generate Images (MPT)

1. Open the list of posts (or another supported type).
2. Select the rows.
3. Bulk actions → **Generate Images (MPT)** → Apply.

You land on **Bulk Generation** with a progress list (**Successful**, **Failed**, **Error**, **Image Already Exists**).

![Bulk actions dropdown showing Generate Images (MPT)](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bulk-dropdown.png)

![Bulk actions Generate Images (MPT)](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bulk-dropdown-1.png)

![Bulk Generation progress](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bulk-progress.png)

##  

## Taxonomies: Generate featured images

On **Posts → Categories** (and other public taxonomies), each term has a **Generate featured images** row action. That opens bulk generation for posts in that term.

![Generate featured images](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/categories-generate.png)

##  

## Gutenberg: MPT Images (photos only)

Add an **MPT Images** block, or click **Generate Manually**. Search photo banks (**Search for Images**). This is **not** the Source chain and **not** AI.

Choose which photo tabs appear under the Gutenberg Block page (**Gutenberg block (manual search)**). API keys stay on **Source**.

![Gutenberg Block settings — Display manual search switch and sortable photo-bank list](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/gutenberg-settings.png)

![manual search MPT](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/popin-MPT.png)

##  

## Pro: cron and imports

Pro can generate on a schedule ([**Cron**](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/cron/)) and with import plugins. See [Compatibility](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/compatibility/).

Optional hooks on Automatic → **Pre-Processing & Developer**: **"Save Post" Hook** and **wp_insert_post**. Enable only if you understand them.

![Automatic Pre-Processing & Developer tab with Save Post hook](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/automatic-preprocess.png)

##  

## Brand overlay

On Automatic → **Post-Processing Image**, **Brand overlay** defaults to **Disabled**. Optional modes: **Title bar**, **Title and logo**. Overlay is drawn on the generated file.

![Post-Processing Image — Brand overlay set to Disabled](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/automatic-overlay.png)

##  

## What uses which settings

- **Source chain** → **Generate Automatically**, posts list **Generate** / **Regenerate**, bulk **Generate Images (MPT)**, taxonomy **Generate featured images**, Dashboard test, Pro cron/imports.
- **Style** / **No text on the image** → AI banks only.
- **Gutenberg Block** / **MPT Images** → photo search only.

More background: [What is Magic Post Thumbnail ?](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/what-is-magic-post-thumbnail/).