Hello @l_tilford ,
I would like to explain that by default the WordPress cron system is disabled on the SiteGround Staging environment. This is done in order to prevent the staging sites from executing tasks related to WooCommerce orders, sending newsletter emails, etc.
SiteGround Optimizer relies on the following cron tasks to generate WebP copies or optimize the images:
siteground_optimizer_start_webp_conversion_cron
siteground_optimizer_start_image_optimization_cron
That being said, if the WordPress cron feature is disabled, SiteGround Optimizer would not be able to schedule and run those tasks.
Please, try to optimize the images on the main site instead. Before you start the optimization, check if the following line is present in wp-config.php:
define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);
This is the rule that disables the WordPress cron system. To activate it, you should temporarily comment or delete this line of code. Then run the image optimization again and confirm the results.
If the issue persists, do not hesitate to contact the SiteGround Support team. They will be able to preview the case in detail and determine the cause of the issue.
Best Regards,
Kuzman Stoyanov