diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bccee13..406f4e1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ You should see that:
 
 ## Changelog
 
+### 4.x-1.2.6
+
+* Image import backward compatibility for WP < v4.8
+
 ### 4.x-1.2.5
 
 * Complete rewrite of image importing
@@ -291,4 +295,4 @@ please refer to the original repository:
 ***
 
 _Please do not remove this version declaration_
-~Current Version:4.x-1.2.5~
+~Current Version:4.x-1.2.6~
diff --git a/api/models/percolate-post-model.php b/api/models/percolate-post-model.php
index 66db497..0232764 100644
--- a/api/models/percolate-post-model.php
+++ b/api/models/percolate-post-model.php
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ public function importPost($post, $template, $schema, $channel, $wpPostID = null
         $definition = PercolateHelpers::searchInArray($fieldDefinitions, 'key', $key);
         if( $definition[0]['type'] == 'asset' ) {
           Percolate_Log::log('Asset field found, importing from Percolate');
-          $imageID = $this->Media->importImageWP($value, $channel->key);
+          $imageID = $this->Media->importImage($value, $channel->key);
 
           $value = $importedFields[$key] = $imageID;
         }
@@ -622,7 +622,10 @@ public function importPost($post, $template, $schema, $channel, $wpPostID = null
     if ( isset($template->image) && $template->image == 'on' && isset($template->postImage) && isset($importedFields[$template->postImage]) ) {
       // Gegt image ID from the imported fields array
       $imageID = $importedFields[$template->postImage];
+      Percolate_Log::log('Setting imageID:' . $imageID . ' to wpPostID' . $wpPostID );
       set_post_thumbnail( $wpPostID, $imageID );
+      Percolate_Log::log('Set imageID:' . $imageID . ' to wpPostID' . $wpPostID );
+
     }
 
     // ----------- WPML --------------
diff --git a/api/services/percolate-media-service.php b/api/services/percolate-media-service.php
index 31b8f35..726dc14 100644
--- a/api/services/percolate-media-service.php
+++ b/api/services/percolate-media-service.php
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public function importImageEndpoint($value='')
      * $_POST['data'] keys: $imageKey, $key, $postId, $featured
      */
     if( isset($_POST['data']) ) {
-      $imageID = $this->importImageWP(array($_POST['data']['imageKey']), $_POST['data']['key']);
+      $imageID = $this->importImage(array($_POST['data']['imageKey']), $_POST['data']['key']);
       if( $_POST['data']['featured'] === "true" && $imageID) {
         Percolate_Log::log('featured: ' . $imageID);
         set_post_thumbnail( $_POST['data']['postId'], $imageID );
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ public function importImageEndpoint($value='')
    * @param $key: importer's custom channel set's key
    * @return string|false: imported image's ID
    */
-  public function importImageWP ($imageKey, $key) {
+  public function importImage ($imageKey, $key) {
 
     if( is_array($imageKey) ) {
       $imageKey = $imageKey[0];
@@ -221,12 +221,7 @@ public function importImageWP ($imageKey, $key) {
       $title = $imageData['id'];
     }
 
-    $id = media_sideload_image($src, null, $title, 'id');
-
-    // ----------- Percolate meta fields --------------
-    update_post_meta($id, 'percolate_id', $imageData['id']);
-    update_post_meta($id, 'percolate_uid', $imageData['uid']);
-    update_post_meta($id, 'percolate_created_at', strtotime($imageData['metadata']['created_at']));
+    $id = $this->uploadToWp($src, $title);
 
     // If error storing permanently, unlink
   	if ( is_wp_error($id) ) {
@@ -234,6 +229,11 @@ public function importImageWP ($imageKey, $key) {
   		return false;
   	}
 
+    // ----------- Percolate meta fields --------------
+    update_post_meta($id, 'percolate_id', $imageData['id']);
+    update_post_meta($id, 'percolate_uid', $imageData['uid']);
+    update_post_meta($id, 'percolate_created_at', strtotime($imageData['metadata']['created_at']));
+
     return $id;
   }
 
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ public function importImageFromUrl ($url) {
     }
 
 
-    $id = media_sideload_image($url, null, $title, 'id');
+    $id = $this->uploadToWp($url, $title);
 
   	// If error importing
   	if ( is_wp_error($id) ) {
@@ -282,4 +282,52 @@ public function importImageFromUrl ($url) {
   	return $src = wp_get_attachment_url( $id );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Uploads the image from given URL to WP
+   * @param  string $src: The image's src
+   * @param  string $title: Title of the asset
+   * @return int|WP_Error id: The uploaded asset's ID or error
+   */
+  private function uploadToWp($src, $title = '')
+  {
+    // media_sideload_image can only return the ID on WP v4.8 and above
+    if (version_compare ( get_bloginfo('version') , '4.8.0' , '>=')) {
+
+      return media_sideload_image($src, null, $title, 'id');
+
+    } else {
+
+      if ( ! empty( $src ) ) {
+
+        // Set variables for storage, fix file filename for query strings.
+        preg_match( '/[^\?]+\.(jpe?g|jpe|gif|png)\b/i', $src, $matches );
+        if ( ! $matches ) {
+            return new WP_Error( 'image_sideload_failed', __( 'Invalid image URL' ) );
+        }
+
+        $file_array = array();
+        $file_array['name'] = basename( $matches[0] );
+
+        // Download file to temp location.
+        $file_array['tmp_name'] = download_url( $src );
+
+        // If error storing temporarily, return the error.
+        if ( is_wp_error( $file_array['tmp_name'] ) ) {
+          return $file_array['tmp_name'];
+        }
+
+        // Do the validation and storage stuff.
+        $id = media_handle_sideload( $file_array, 0, $title );
+
+        // If error storing permanently, unlink.
+        if ( is_wp_error( $id ) ) {
+          @unlink( $file_array['tmp_name'] );
+        }
+
+        return $id;
+      }
+
+    }
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/frontend/views/templates/settings.php b/frontend/views/templates/settings.php
index 48a3827..7e7e783 100644
--- a/frontend/views/templates/settings.php
+++ b/frontend/views/templates/settings.php
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 
 <p>
   <small>
-    Plugin version: 4.x-1.2.5 (<i>Supported WordPress version - Plugin version</i>)<br>
+    Plugin version: 4.x-1.2.6 (<i>Supported WordPress version - Plugin version</i>)<br>
     PHP >= 5.6 required for the plugin to function properly
   </small>
 </p>
diff --git a/percolate-sync.php b/percolate-sync.php
index f6ee6b2..1558958 100644
--- a/percolate-sync.php
+++ b/percolate-sync.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 Plugin URI: https://github.com/percolate/wordpress
 Description: Percolate integration for Wordpress, which includes the ability to sync posts, media library elements and custom creative templates.
 Author: Percolate Industries, Inc.
-Version: 4.x-1.2.5
+Version: 4.x-1.2.6
 Author URI: http://percolate.com
 */