Do you want to organize files and folders WordPress from the media library?

By default, WordPress automatically creates folders in the media library based on year and month. However, some users may want to create their own custom folders for different media files.

In this article, we are going to show you how to easily organize WordPress files in custom media library folders.

But before, if you have never installed WordPress discover How to Install a WordPress Blog in 7 Steps et How to search, install and activate a WordPress theme on your blog.

Then, back to why we are here.

Why organize your files in media library folders?

Normally, WordPress stores all of your images and other media files in the / wp-content / uploads / folder. To keep it structured, all files are stored in folders organized by year and month.

https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/
organize WordPress files from media library folders


It works great for most websites. However, some users may want to gain more control over how WordPress stores media files.

For example, one photography website may want to organize WordPress images by topic, location, or event folders. Likewise, a portfolio website may want to organize their media downloads by type, customer, industry, and more.

This allows them to easily browse their media files. At the same time, this optimize the referencing of your -SEO- images, and allows you to add keywords in the URLs of image files.

With that said, let's take a look at how to easily create folders to organize your WordPress media files.

How to organize your WordPress files in media library folders

First of all, you need to install and activate The plugin WordPress Media Library Folders. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Please note: The free version of the plugin only allows you to create 10 folders. You will need to upgrade to the pro version if you want to do more.

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Upon activation, the plugin will add a new menu item " Media Library FoldersIn your WordPress admin sidebar. Clicking on it will open the view which shows all of the folders inside your WordPress upload directory.

From there, you can create new folders and add files to them. You can also move, copy, rename or delete your files.

We will create new folders and add images to them.

To create a new folder, just click on the 'Add a folder', then type the name you want to use for this folder.

Tip: You cannot use spaces in folder names. Instead, use the hyphen or underline to separate words if necessary.

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It is also possible to create subfolders within the folders, if required. To create subfolders, you just have to click on the parent folder to select it, then click on the ' Add a folder ''.

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We have created two subfolders for our folder forests et mountains. To display a sub-folder, you must click on the small arrow to the left of the main folder:

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To add files to your folders, just click on the folder and then click on the 'Add a file'. After that go ahead and download as many files as you want.

How to Organize Media Library WordPress Files and Folders


Once you are done uploading files, you will see them on screen as thumbnails with the file name below:

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It's easy to add your files downloaded to your posts or pages. You can add them like any other files you have uploaded to the media library.

Move and copy your files to media library folders

What if you need to move a file to another folder in WordPress media library?

It is easy to move or copy it using the various buttons that this WordPress Plugin.

Move an image to a new folder in the media library

To move an image or any other file, just make sure the toggle Move / Copy is set to 'Move', then drag the image to the correct folder.

Tip: Your mouse pointer should be over the new folder, as shown below. The small thumbnail in the image just shows you what you're moving, not where you're moving it.

In this example, a mountain image was incorrectly placed in the Forests folder. We move it to the Mountains folder.

How to Organize Media Library WordPress Files and Folders


Copy an image to another folder in the media library

To copy an image, set the Move / Copy toggle to 'Copy', then go ahead and drag the image as before. Here we are copying an image of a forest, so that it is in both the 'Forests' and the 'Mountains' folders.

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This time, your original image will remain in place. Your image will be duplicated so that it can be present in both folders.

Rename Media Library Files and Folders

You can easily change the filename with this plugin. First, find the file you want to edit and click the checkbox below. Then click on the 'Rename' button at the top of the screen.

After that, type in the name of the file you want to use. The names of the image files may have a small impact on your SEO, so it is recommended to use keywords inside them. Here we changed the filename to an article on inspiring forest images:

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You cannot rename or move a folder in the media library folders. However, it is possible to create a new folder, move all the images, and then delete the old folder.

To delete a folder, right-click on it, then click the " Delete This Folder? ». 

You will then see a message asking you to confirm. Click on 'OKAY' to continue and the folder will be deleted. You will no longer see it in the list:

Tip: You may see the message "This folder is not empty and could not be deleted" even if the folder appears empty. Just click on the button 'Synchronize'. WordPress may have created additional versions of your images that need to be removed. After synchronization, you will be able to review and delete these images.

We offer you here some premium WordPress plugins that will help you do that.

1. WP How Designer

WP Comment Designer is a WordPress Plugin premium that will help you change the layout of the look of your comments section and that of your submission form. You can add text or numeric fields, radio buttons, checkboxes, selector, and upload files. The fields, by default and custom, can be reorganized.

Wp comment designer customize and design wordpress comments and comment form wordpress plugin


Ce WordPress Plugin fully responsive and RTL compatible also allows users to edit their comments. This plugin will therefore make your comments section more efficient.

See also How to customize the form of comments on WordPress

Overall, it's an easy-to-use plugin that works perfectly with the latest version of WordPress.

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2. Ultimate Form Builder

Ultimate Form Builder is a premium WordPress plugin that allows you to create forms unlimited responsive. It has a builder forms drag'n'drop which can create any type of form (contact, survey, offer, information, etc.).

Ultimate form builder

This WordPress plugin is easy to use. You can create, customize and design beautiful forms, apply models of forms already existing for design and use them on your website in no time.

Discover 6 WordPress plugins for verification by CAPTCHA on your forms

You will also be able to receive form data via e-mail and store it in the database; which can be exported in CSV format for use via the dashboard of your website. All forms designed by this plugin are super secure thanks to an efficient Captcha system.

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3. Modern WPBakery Page Builder

Extensions of Visual Composer are among the most popular plugins on CodeCanyon for both developers and customers. There are a number of them that are released every month, and they are quickly becoming top-selling.

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This month we want to feature the plugin " Kaswara – an excellent extension for Visual Composer "versatile" Offering a huge amount of versatility.

To start, Kaswara introduced a huge list of more than 45 elements.

Better still, these elements are almost infinitely customizable, with more than 500 shortcode options. This means that you can customize each item to your exact specifications.

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Other recommended resources

We also invite you to consult the resources below to go further in the grip and control of your website and blog.

Conclusion

Here ! That's it for this tutorial. We hope this article has helped you learn how to organize WordPress files in media library folders. To go further, you'll also want to check out our guide on How to compress and resize images on WordPress

However, you can also consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on WordPress blog creation.

Feel free to share the tip with your friends on your social networks. But, in the meantime, let us know your comments and suggestions in the dedicated section.

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