Media Library Tools – AI-Powered Rename, Clean & CSV Import/Export

FAQ

— MEDIA TABLE —

How do I view and manage all my media files in one place?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Media Table. You will see your entire WordPress media library in a fast, paginated table with columns for thumbnail, filename, title, alt text, caption, description, attached post, and file type. You can sort by any column, filter by date, category, or keyword, and perform bulk actions on selected items.

How do I inline-edit a single media item’s metadata?

In the Media Table, click the Enable Edit Mode button on any row. The row expands to show editable fields for title, alt text, caption, and description. Make your changes and save. This is the fastest way to update metadata for individual images without leaving the table.

How do I bulk edit alt text, title, caption, and description for multiple images at once?

Select the images you want to edit using the checkboxes in the Media Table, then choose Bulk Edit from the Bulk Actions dropdown and click Apply. A modal will open where you can enter new values for title, alt text, caption, and description. Changes are applied to all selected items in one save action.

Can I bulk edit media metadata based on the attached post title? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Select images in the Media Table, choose Bulk Edit by Post Title from the Bulk Actions dropdown, and click Apply. The plugin will automatically populate alt text, caption, and description using the title of the post or page each image is attached to. This is ideal for sites where images are always uploaded directly inside a post.

How do I move media files to trash or delete them permanently?

Select items in the Media Table, then choose Move to Trash or Delete Permanently from the Bulk Actions dropdown. Trashed items can be restored at any time before you empty the trash.

How do I create and assign media categories?

Select items in the Media Table and choose Bulk Edit. In the modal you can assign a media category to all selected items. You can also filter the Media Table by category using the category dropdown filter at the top. Categories appear as clickable links in the native WordPress Media Library list view as well.

How do I copy a media file URL quickly?

Each row in the Media Table has a copy-to-clipboard icon next to the filename. Clicking it copies the full file URL to your clipboard instantly — no need to open the attachment edit screen.

— MEDIA FILE RENAMER —

How do I rename a WordPress media file for better SEO?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Media Rename. The rename table shows all your media files sorted by ID (newest first). Click into the filename field for any row, type your new SEO-friendly slug (no extension needed), and save. The plugin updates the filename on disk, the database record, all post content references, featured images, and Elementor data automatically.

How do I bulk rename multiple media files at once?

In the Media Rename table, select the files you want to rename using the checkboxes, then click Bulk Rename in the header. Choose a rename strategy — custom name, post title, SKU, or alt text — and confirm. All selected files are renamed in a single operation.

Can I rename files based on the attached post title? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Select images in the Media Rename table, click Bulk Rename, and choose Rename Based on Attached Post Title. The plugin reads the title of the post or page each image is attached to and uses it as the new filename. Prefix and suffix settings are applied automatically.

Can I rename files based on WooCommerce product SKU? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature available on WooCommerce sites. In the Bulk Rename modal, choose Rename Based on Product SKU. Each image is renamed using the SKU of its attached WooCommerce product. This is perfect for keeping product image filenames aligned with your inventory system.

Can I rename files based on their existing alt text? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Choose Rename Based on Alt Text in the Bulk Rename modal. The plugin uses each image’s current alt text as the new filename, which keeps your filenames and alt text perfectly consistent for stronger SEO alignment.

Can I add a prefix or suffix to all renamed files? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Go to Settings > Renamer Settings and enter your desired prefix and/or suffix. These values are automatically prepended and appended to every filename during any bulk rename operation — whether by post title, SKU, alt text, or CSV import.

Can WordPress automatically rename files when they are uploaded? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Enable Auto Rename on Upload in Settings > Renamer Settings. You can rename uploaded files based on the attached post title or set a global custom rename pattern that applies to every upload.

Does renaming a file break existing links or images on my site?

No. When you rename a file, the plugin automatically updates the database record, all <img> tags in post content, featured image assignments, Elementor page builder data, and custom meta fields. Your site continues to work normally. We still recommend testing on a staging site first and clearing your cache after any bulk rename.

— REGENERATE THUMBNAILS —

How do I regenerate all image thumbnails after changing image sizes?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Regenerate Thumbs. Click Start Regenerating to process all images in batches of 10 at a time. A progress bar shows real-time status. The process also automatically deletes orphaned thumbnail files for image sizes that are no longer registered, freeing up disk space.

Can I stop the thumbnail regeneration process partway through?

Yes. Click the Stop button at any time to pause. The progress bar turns amber to indicate a stopped state. You can resume by clicking Restart from Beginning or proceed to clean up orphaned files using the Check Rubbish Files button.

— DUPLICATE IMAGE FINDER —

How do I find duplicate images in my WordPress media library?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Duplicates. Click Scan for Duplicates. The plugin compares every media file using MD5 hash fingerprinting — so it finds exact byte-for-byte duplicates regardless of filename. Results are grouped by file, showing how many copies exist, the file size, and the total wasted disk space across the group.

Can I see where duplicate images are being used before deleting them?

Yes. Each duplicate group shows every copy with its filename, file path, and a list of posts and pages where it is currently used — including post type and a direct link to view the post. This lets you make an informed decision before merging.

What happens when I merge duplicate images? (Pro)

Merging is a Pro feature. In the duplicate group, click Merge, select the copy you want to keep, and confirm. The plugin deletes all other copies and automatically updates every reference to them — in post content, excerpts, featured images, Elementor data, and custom post meta — to point to the kept copy. Your site continues to work without any broken images.

Is merging duplicates reversible?

No. Merged (deleted) files are permanently removed from disk and the media library. We strongly recommend reviewing which copy to keep and backing up before running a merge operation.

— RUBBISH FILE FINDER (MEDIA CLEANER) —

What is a rubbish file?

A rubbish file is a file that physically exists in your WordPress uploads directory but is not registered in the media library database. These are typically leftover files from deleted plugins, failed uploads, manual FTP operations, theme switches, or old image size variations that WordPress no longer generates. They waste disk space without serving any purpose.

How do I scan for rubbish files?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Rubbish Files and click Find Rubbish Files. The directory scan modal opens — select which directories to scan and click Start. The plugin scans in batches via WordPress cron and lists all files not found in the media library database. You can filter results by file type.

Is it safe to delete rubbish files?

Most rubbish files are safe to delete. However, some themes and plugins store files in the uploads directory that are not registered in the media library — for example, plugin data files, backup exports, or files used by page builders. Always review the list before deleting, and use the Ignore feature to mark files you want to keep so they are excluded from future scan results.

How do I delete or restore rubbish files? (Pro)

Deleting and restoring are Pro features. With Pro you can: Bulk Delete all selected files at once, Single Delete individual files, Restore to Library to import an orphaned file back into the WordPress media library with proper thumbnails and metadata generated, or Ignore a file to exclude it from future scans.

Can rubbish files be deleted automatically during the scan? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro option. In the directory scan modal, enable Instant delete rubbish file during scan before starting. Files identified as rubbish are deleted immediately as they are found. Note: this action is irreversible.

— IMAGE USAGE TRACKER (USED WHERE) —

How do I find out where a specific image is being used on my WordPress site?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Used Where and click Scan All Posts. The plugin scans all your posts, pages, and custom post types in batches, detecting images used in post content, featured images, Elementor data, and custom meta fields. After scanning, click on any image in the results to expand a list of every post it appears in — with post type, usage type, and a direct View link.

How do I find unused images that are safe to delete?

After running a scan in Used Where, click the Unused tab. This lists all media files that were not found in any post, page, or custom field during the scan. You can select unused images using the checkboxes and delete them in bulk. A confirmation modal will appear with a disclaimer reminding you to verify manually before deleting.

Can I delete unused images in bulk?

Yes. On the Unused tab, use the Select all checkbox or select individual images, then click Delete N images. A confirmation modal will appear with a warning and disclaimer. Once confirmed, the selected attachments are permanently deleted from the media library and disk. The results list refreshes automatically after deletion.

What types of image usage does the scanner detect?

The scanner detects images used in: post content (via <img> tags and URLs), featured images (_thumbnail_id), Elementor page builder widget data, and custom post meta fields containing image URLs or IDs. You can also enable Frontend Tracking in Settings to passively capture additional usage as real visitors browse your site.

Does the unused image list update in real time?

The unused image list reflects the last completed scan. To get up-to-date results, click Re-scan after publishing new content or making changes to your media library. The scan processes posts in batches of 20 with a live progress bar so it handles large sites without timeouts.

— AUTO METADATA ON UPLOAD —

Can WordPress automatically fill in alt text when I upload an image?

Yes. Go to Settings > Alt Text Settings and enable Use Image Name as Alt Text or Custom Text. When enabled, every newly uploaded image automatically gets alt text set from its filename or your custom default text — no manual entry needed.

Can alt text, caption, and description be auto-filled from the attached post title at upload? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Enable Default Alt Text Based on Post Title, Default Caption Based on Post Title, and/or Default Description Based on Post Title in the respective Settings sections. When you upload an image directly inside a post or page, the plugin automatically fills those fields using the post title.

Can missing alt text be automatically injected on the frontend without editing every image? (Pro)

Yes — this is a Pro feature. Enable Auto Inject Alt Text in Settings > Renamer Settings. When WordPress renders image tags on the frontend, the plugin fills in any missing alt attribute using a priority fallback: post title → filename → custom default text. This improves both SEO and WCAG 2.1 accessibility across your entire site without touching individual media records.

— AI CONTENT GENERATOR —

How does the AI content generator work?

Go to Settings > AI Settings, select your AI provider (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Anthropic Claude), enter your API key, and choose a model. Then open the Media Table or Media Rename table and click the AI button on any media item. The plugin sends the file metadata (and the image itself in Pro) to the AI and returns SEO-optimized suggestions for title, alt text, caption, description, and filename.

Which AI providers and models are supported?

The plugin supports ChatGPT (GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and more), Google Gemini (2.0 Flash, 2.0 Flash Lite, 1.5 Pro, 1.5 Flash), and Anthropic Claude (Haiku, Sonnet, Opus). You can switch providers and models at any time in Settings.

What is the difference between free and Pro AI generation?

The free version returns 1 AI suggestion per field. The Pro version returns up to 10 suggestions per field so you can pick the best one, and it also supports Image Vision — sending the actual image file to the AI provider for visual analysis, which produces significantly more accurate and descriptive alt text and captions.

Does AI generation send my images to a third-party server?

In the free version, only text metadata (filename, existing alt text, post title, site name) is sent to the AI provider. In Pro, if you enable Image Vision, the image is base64-encoded and included in the API request. All communication is encrypted via HTTPS. No data is stored by this plugin; it is sent directly to your chosen provider (OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic) under their respective privacy policies.

Do I need to pay for AI generation?

The plugin itself does not charge for AI generation. You need an API key from your chosen provider (OpenAI, Google AI Studio, or Anthropic). Each provider has their own pricing — most offer a generous free tier that covers typical media library use. You are billed directly by the provider based on usage.

— IMAGE SIZES —

How do I disable WordPress from generating unnecessary thumbnail sizes?

Go to Settings > Image Size Settings. You will see a list of all registered image sizes — including default WordPress sizes and any added by your theme or plugins. Check the sizes you want to disable and save. WordPress will no longer generate those sizes for new uploads, saving disk space. Already-generated thumbnails are not deleted automatically; use Regenerate Thumbnails or the Rubbish File Finder to clean those up.

How do I register new custom image sizes? (Pro)

This is a Pro feature. Go to Settings > Image Size Settings and scroll to the Register Custom Image Sizes section. Click Add New Size, enter a name, width, height, and choose whether to crop. Save your settings. WordPress will generate this size for every new upload. You can edit or delete custom sizes at any time.

— CSV EXPORT / IMPORT —

How do I export my media library metadata to CSV?

Go to Media > Media Tools > CSV Export. Choose which columns to include (ID, slug, URL, title, alt text, caption, description, and custom meta fields) and click Export. The plugin processes your entire library in batches and downloads a CSV file you can open in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet application.

How do I bulk-update media metadata using a CSV file? (Pro)

This is a Pro feature. Go to Media > Media Tools > CSV Import, upload your CSV file, and click Import. The plugin matches rows by ID or slug and updates each media record. Supported columns include rename_to, title, alt_text, caption, description, and custom meta fields using the custom_meta:_key format. Files can also be renamed during import using the rename_to column.

— SVG SUPPORT —

Does the plugin allow SVG file uploads in WordPress?

Yes. The plugin enables secure SVG uploads to WordPress. Every SVG file is sanitized on upload to remove XSS vulnerabilities, remote references, and embedded scripts. Proper width and height metadata is generated automatically. The maximum allowed SVG file size is 500KB by default (adjustable via the tsmlt_upload_max_svg_file_size filter).

— MEDIA DOWNLOAD SHORTCODE —

How do I add a download button for a media file in my content?

Use the [tsmlt_download_button] shortcode anywhere in your posts, pages, or widgets:
* By attachment ID: [tsmlt_download_button id='123' text='Download Now' /]
* By direct URL: [tsmlt_download_button url='https://example.com/file.pdf' text='Download PDF' /]
The button forces a browser download prompt and works with images, PDFs, audio, video, archives, and documents.

— REGENERATE THUMBNAILS —

How do I regenerate all image thumbnail sizes in WordPress?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Regenerate Thumbs and click Start Regenerating. The plugin processes your entire media library in batches of 10 images at a time, regenerating every registered thumbnail size for each image. A real-time progress bar shows total images, processed count, succeeded, and any errors. This is useful after changing image sizes in your theme, installing a new page builder, or adding new registered sizes.

Does regenerating thumbnails delete old unused thumbnail files?

Yes. When regenerating, the plugin automatically detects and deletes orphaned thumbnail files — size variants that exist on disk but are no longer registered as active image sizes. This frees up disk space without any manual cleanup. After regeneration finishes, you can also click Check Rubbish Files to scan for any remaining orphaned files.

Can I stop the thumbnail regeneration partway through?

Yes. Click the Stop button at any time. The progress bar turns amber to indicate a stopped state, showing exactly how many images were processed before stopping. You can then click Restart from Beginning to start over, or navigate to the Rubbish Files page to clean up already-processed orphans.

What should I do if some images fail during thumbnail regeneration?

Any failed images are listed in the error log below the progress bar. Each error shows the filename and the error message. You can dismiss individual errors or all at once. Common causes are unreadable files, unsupported file types, or insufficient server memory for very large images. Check your server’s PHP memory_limit setting if you see repeated failures.

— EMPTY DIRECTORIES —

How do I find and delete empty folders in my WordPress uploads directory?

Go to Media > Media Tools > Rubbish Files. The page includes an Empty Directories section that lists all empty folders found in your uploads directory. You can delete them one by one or click Delete All Empty Directories to remove them all at once. Empty directories are commonly left behind after deleting media files, switching themes, or removing plugins.

— GENERAL —

Does the plugin slow down my WordPress site?

No. The plugin only loads its code in the WordPress admin on the Media Library Tools pages. No scripts, styles, or database queries are added to your frontend (except for optional frontend tracking and alt text injection, both of which are opt-in and lightweight). Admin scanning operations run via AJAX in batches specifically to avoid server timeouts.

Is the plugin compatible with Elementor?

Yes. File renames, duplicate merges, and usage tracking all correctly handle Elementor page builder data. When you rename or merge a file, the plugin updates Elementor’s serialized widget data in the database so page builder layouts continue to work.

Is the plugin compatible with WooCommerce?

Yes. The Bulk Rename by Product SKU feature (Pro) is specifically designed for WooCommerce stores. The plugin also correctly handles product images in duplicate detection, usage tracking, and the CSV export/import workflow.

Will the plugin work on WordPress multisite?

The plugin is designed for single-site installations. Multisite compatibility is not officially tested or supported at this time.

Where can I get support?

Visit the WordPress.org support forum for free support, or use the Get Support page inside the plugin admin for documentation, feature requests, and priority Pro support.

Where is the source code?

👉 Official GitHub Repository 👈