Safe Cleanup Workflow

Install. Scan. Clean up safely.

Learn how to clean WordPress media library files without fear. Three simple steps take you from a cluttered media library to a verified cleanup — with full Used In context and recoverable trash every time.
✓ Read-Only Scan✓ Background Async✓ 30-Day Trash Recovery✓ Low Server Impact
Workflow: Install → Background Scan → Used In Verification → Safe Trash
Step-By-Step Workflow

From installation to safe cleanup in under 5 minutes

Here is a clear step-by-step process to clean a WordPress media library safely.
01

Install from WordPress.org

In your WordPress admin, navigate to Plugins → Add New, search for Media Purge, then click Install and Activate. Or upload the plugin directly from WordPress.org.

  • ✓ No API keys required
  • ✓ No external account signups
  • ✓ WordPress 5.8+ & PHP 7.4+
Free Download
02

Run a background scan

Open Media → Media Purge and click Run Scan Now. The scanner is strictly read-only and runs asynchronously in small batches so your public site and admin stay completely responsive.

  • ✓ Elementor, Divi & WPBakery data
  • ✓ WooCommerce galleries & featured meta
  • ✓ Gutenberg blocks, widgets & Customizer
Read-only background process
03

Review Used In → Trash → Recover

Inspect results with full file sizes and Used In links. Move unused files to the internal trash with 30-day retention. Restore any file with one click, or export to CSV for client approval.

  • ✓ Direct post edit links before trashing
  • ✓ 30-day default recoverable window
  • ✓ One-click restore or bulk restore
Recoverable Trash
Under The Hood

What happens behind the scenes during a scan

Engineered from the ground up to never impact your live visitors or lock your database.

Read-Only Inspection

Never modifies files or database rows during scan execution. Your media library remains untouched until you explicitly choose an action.

Async Batch Processing

Splits the scan into lightweight asynchronous chunks via AJAX to keep PHP timeouts and server RAM load down.

Deep Reference Parsing

Decodes serialized database values, Elementor JSON widget trees, shortcodes, and WooCommerce gallery postmeta recursively.

MD5 Hash Fingerprinting

Calculates file checksums to pinpoint identical images uploaded under different names or at different times.

Long-Term Hygiene

Stay in control as your site grows

A clean media library isn’t a one-time event. Keep your site lean and organized over time with these simple best practices.

Periodic Maintenance

Re-run scans after large theme redesigns, blog revisions, or WooCommerce bulk catalog updates to keep disk usage lean.

Persistent Whitelist

Add custom brand assets, logo files, or images referenced in external scripts to Whitelist so they are permanently protected.

Adjustable Retention

Customize trash retention period in Settings (default 30 days) to match your team’s review cycle before permanent purge.

CSV Audit Records

Download an offline CSV report of unused files before trashing for agency sign-off, client records, or archiving.

Workflow FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Scans run as a background asynchronous process in small batches. Normal visitors and customer checkouts are completely unaffected even while a scan is running.
Only when you explicitly click “Delete Permanently” in the Recovery tab, or when the trash retention period (default 30 days) expires after you trashed them.
Start with Whitelist for known-good files, then post on the WordPress.org support forum for rapid help from the development team.
Media Purge is engineered to be extremely safe with read-only scanning and recoverable trash, but keeping regular backups before doing any bulk site maintenance is always a recommended best practice.

Cleaned up your media library?

If you've run a scan and cleanup, tell other WordPress users how it went in a short WordPress.org review.

Leave an honest review
Ready When You Are

Ready to clean your WordPress media library?

Reclaim server storage, speed up backups, and organize your media library safely — free.

Plugins → Add New → search “Media Purge”