Table of contents

Why your uploads folder needs cleaningUse a plugin to clean the uploads folderManually clean the uploads folderExtra cleanup: Empty the media trashImportant tips and best practicesWhy hire WordPress maintenance services?Next stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Management → Clean WordPress Uploads Folder

How to clean the WordPress uploads folder

Man sits at a desk staring at a desktop computer

Your WordPress uploads folder stores every image, PDF, video, and media file you’ve ever uploaded to your site. Over time, this folder can grow bloated with unused, duplicate, or outdated files. Cleaning it out helps speed up backups, reduce server space usage, and keep your Media Library manageable.

Let’s walk through how to safely clean your uploads folder—using a plugin or manually—without accidentally deleting files your site still needs.

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Why your uploads folder needs cleaning

Before jumping into cleanup, it’s helpful to understand why this folder tends to grow out of control:

Every media file you upload—images, videos, PDFs—gets stored in /wp-content/uploads.
Theme and plugin changes often leave behind unused thumbnail sizes.
Duplicate uploads can build up if your team reuses the same files multiple times.
Old, forgotten content may no longer be needed but still uses space.

Cleaning this folder can free up storage, improve performance, and make managing your content easier.

Use a plugin to clean the uploads folder

For beginners or anyone who wants a safer, automated process, the best method is using a plugin like Media Cleaner.

Media Cleaner is a trusted plugin that scans your Media Library and WordPress database to find unused files. It works by identifying files that are no longer referenced anywhere on your site (posts, pages, widgets, etc.).

Install the plugin
Create a full backup
- Before running the plugin, back up your entire site (files + database).
- Use a plugin like Solid Backups or your hosting control panel.
- This ensures you can restore your site if something goes wrong.
Configure Media Cleaner
- After activation, go to Media > Media Cleaner in the WordPress dashboard.
- In the settings tab, review the options:
  - Enable “Test Mode” so you can preview files before deletion.
  - Decide whether to scan the uploads folder directly (advanced).
- Click Save Changes.
Scan your media files
- Click the Scan button.
- Media Cleaner will look for unused media files and list them in the interface.
- Files will be marked as “unused” if they’re not found in posts, pages, custom fields, or menus.
Review results carefully. Not all “unused” files are truly unused. Media Cleaner may miss files used in:
- Theme headers or backgrounds.
- Custom sliders or shortcodes.
- Page builder content (the Pro version helps with these).
- Preview each file before deleting it.
Delete unused media
- Once confident, click Delete for individual files or Bulk Delete to remove all flagged files.
- Files are moved to the trash folder first. You can restore them if needed.
Empty the trash
- In Media > Library, switch to the Trash tab.
- Click Empty Trash to permanently delete the files and free up space.

Manually clean the uploads folder

If you prefer not to use a plugin, or if you want more control, you can clean the uploads folder manually. This method requires access to your website’s files and some attention to detail.

Step 1: Back up your website

Back up both your WordPress files and your database.
Use your hosting control panel or a WordPress backup plugin.
Download the backup files to your local machine before proceeding.

Step 2: Access your uploads folder

Use an FTP client like FileZilla, or your web host’s file manager (often found in cPanel or a custom dashboard).
Navigate to this folder: /wp-content/uploads/
You’ll see year- and month-based folders (e.g., 2023/07/, 2024/01/) containing all your uploaded files.

Step 3: Identify unused files

Manually identifying which files are no longer used can be tricky. Here are a few methods:

Compare with Media Library
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Media > Library.
- Filter by “Unattached” to view files that aren’t linked to any posts or pages.
- These files may be safe to remove—but double-check if they’re used in sliders, galleries, or shortcodes.
Look for duplicates or outdated files
- Check for repeated uploads or outdated logos, images, and PDFs that have been replaced elsewhere on the site.
Thumbnail files
- WordPress creates multiple sizes of each uploaded image. These often have suffixes like -150×150.jpg, -300×300.jpg, etc.
- You can safely delete older thumbnails that no longer match your current image size settings—but only if you’re sure they’re not in use.

Step 4: Delete unused files

Right-click and delete the selected files or folders using your FTP client or file manager.
Avoid deleting any files unless you’re certain they’re not in use—WordPress won’t stop you from breaking image links this way.

Step 5: Remove empty directories

After deleting files, check for empty year/month folders.
Delete them if they no longer contain any files. This reduces clutter and helps future backups run faster.

Extra cleanup: Empty the media trash

When you delete media through the dashboard, WordPress moves it to the trash—just like deleted posts or pages.

Go to Media > Library.
Click the Trash tab at the top.
Click Empty Trash to permanently delete those files.

This final step helps reclaim storage space on your server.

Important tips and best practices

Always back up before cleaning

Whether you use a plugin or do it manually, create a full backup first. Accidental deletions can break pages, especially if media files are embedded in shortcodes or builder elements.

Don’t trust the “Unattached” filter blindly

Many files used in custom fields, widgets, or sliders appear as unattached—even though they are still in use. Media Cleaner’s scan is more reliable than relying solely on the Unattached filter.

Clean regularly

Set a reminder to clean your uploads folder every few months, especially on media-heavy sites. This reduces server bloat and makes backup files smaller and faster.

Why hire WordPress maintenance services?

If you rely on your site for traffic, sales, or lead generation, outsourcing maintenance gives peace of mind and frees up your time.

Key benefits:

Security: Professional services proactively patch vulnerabilities and remove malware.
Speed: Ongoing optimization keeps your site fast and responsive.
Uptime: 24/7 monitoring and alerts mean fewer surprises.
Backups: Daily offsite backups reduce risk of data loss.
Expert help: Quick access to developers when things break.

Next steps for cleaning the WordPress uploads folder

Cleaning up your WordPress uploads folder makes your site faster, easier to manage, and more efficient. You’ll avoid unnecessary bloat, especially if your site has grown over time or undergone design changes.

Start with the Media Cleaner plugin for a safe and user-friendly way to find and remove unused files. If you’re confident with FTP, a manual cleanup gives you even more control.

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