Use the Media Library

  • media
  • media-library
  • images
  • uploads

Updated

The WordPress Media Library, under Media → Library, holds every image, video, PDF, and other file uploaded to your site, whether you uploaded it there or straight into a page. You can reuse any file on as many pages as you like without uploading it again.

Open the library

Go to Media → Library. The two icons at the top left switch between Grid view, which shows thumbnails, and List view, which shows file names, who uploaded each file, and the page or post it was uploaded to.

Upload files

  1. Click Add Media File at the top of the library, or go to Media → Add Media File.
  2. Drag files onto the page, or click Select Files to choose them from your computer.

The upload area shows the largest file size your site accepts. Resize large photos before uploading; see Best image size and format for your website. Anything you upload while editing a page lands in the library too.

Find a file

  • Type filter: the All media items dropdown narrows the library to Images, Audio, Video, Documents, Spreadsheets, or Archives. Unattached shows files that weren't uploaded to a particular page or post, and Mine shows only your uploads.
  • Date filter: All dates narrows the library to the month a file was uploaded.
  • Search: the Search media box finds files by title and file name.

Edit a file's details

Click a file to open its details. On the right you can edit:

  • Alternative Text (images only): a short description for people who can't see the image, and for search engines. See How to write alt text for images.
  • Title: the name the library shows. Visitors don't usually see it.
  • Caption: text that shows under the image on pages that use captions.
  • Description: notes for yourself; most pages don't show it.

File URL shows the file's web address. Copy URL to clipboard copies it, for example to link a PDF from an email. For linking files on your pages, see Upload a PDF to WordPress and link to it.

Changes save automatically. Edit Image lets you crop, rotate, or scale an image.

How do I delete files from the media library?

In the details window, click Delete permanently. To remove several files, click Bulk select in grid view, click each file, then click Delete permanently.

There's no trash for media: deleted files are gone for good, and any page still using them shows a broken image. Check before deleting a file you didn't upload yourself.

If your site runs on Dirigible

  • No accidental duplicates: if you upload a file that's already in the library, Dirigible stops the upload and points you to the copy that's already there.
  • Photo credits: each file has an Attribution field for the photographer or stock source, like "Photo by Jane Smith on Pexels."
  • Focal points: choose the part of an image that should stay in frame when it's cropped. See Set a focal point on an image.
  • Alt text help: with Dirigible AI you can draft alt text for one image or the whole library. See Generate alt text with AI.
  • Broken image fixes: new image sizes are added to your existing images by themselves, and Fix broken image references repairs images that show as broken on pages. See Media maintenance tools.

More in A Smarter Media Library.