The Media Library

[wp101 video=”media-library”]

In this video, the instructor explains how to use the Media Library in WordPress to manage, edit, and organize files such as images, audio, and PDFs.

1. What the Media Library Does

• Stores every file you upload (images, audio, PDFs, etc.).
• Becomes increasingly important as your site grows with dozens or hundreds of files.
• Two views available:
  • Grid View – visual thumbnails
  • List View – sortable columns (file name, author, upload date, attached posts/pages)

2. File Management

• Hovering over a file shows quick actions:
  • Edit
  • Delete permanently
  • View attached page/post
• Attached vs. Unattached Files:
  • Attached = file is used in a page or post
  • Unattached = uploaded but not yet used
  • You can manually attach a file to a page/post using the Attach link
• Filters:
  • View by file type
  • View by upload date
• Bulk select files to delete multiple items at once

3. Editing File Metadata

• Select a file to edit:
  • Alt text (important for accessibility and SEO)
  • Title
  • Caption
  • Description

4. Image Editing Tools

• Select Edit Image for basic tools:
  • Crop
  • Rotate
  • Flip
  • Undo/redo
• Resize oversized images:
  • Use Scale Image to proportionally reduce dimensions
• Crop with aspect ratio:
  • Set aspect ratio (e.g., 8×10)
  • Drag to select and refine crop area
  • Enter exact pixel dimensions if needed
• Choose which sizes to apply edits to:
  • All image sizes
  • Thumbnail only
  • All sizes except thumbnail
• Save edits or restore the original image anytime

5. Automatic Image Sizes

• Every uploaded image generates multiple versions:
  • Thumbnail
  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large
  • Full-size original

Key Takeaway:

The Media Library is your central hub for managing all uploaded files in WordPress. Beyond storage, it lets you organize, edit, resize, and optimize images, making sure your site stays visually polished and mobile-friendly.