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    Hotlink protection

    Explains why other websites can't show your images by default, and what changes when you allow it.

    Hotlinking is when another website shows your image by pointing at its address on your site. Their page shows your image, but your site serves it.

    Off by default

    By default, each image is "Restricted to your own site." Your own pages show it normally. Other websites that try to embed it get nothing.

    Opening an image's address directly in a browser tab still works. Protection is about other sites embedding your images, not about hiding them.

    Allowing hotlinking for an image

    Some images are meant to be shared, such as a logo for press or a badge partners put on their sites. To allow it:

    1. Open Images and click the image.
    2. Under Usage & delivery, turn on Allow hotlinking.

    The note changes to "Image may be embedded on other websites. Third-party views count toward your pageview total."

    This is set per image. Your other images stay protected.

    Why it matters

    Every time another site shows your image, your site serves it. A popular site embedding your images could add a lot of traffic to your account. Keeping protection on for most images avoids that.

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