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Free Plugin by Der Webfuchs v1.4.0

Unused Media Checker

Identify, inspect and delete unused media files in your media library, including integrations for Advanced Ads and Photo Gallery (10Web).

Unused Media Checker

The facts

Rating
5★ from 1
Active installs
200+
Price
Free
Last updated
20 Aug 2026
Added
Jul 2024
Requires WP
6.0
Tested up to
WP 7.1
Requires PHP
8.0
Downloads
3,935

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Unused Media Checker is a WordPress plugin designed to help you identify and safely remove unused media files from your Media Library. It scans your library in small, resumable batches to reduce the risk of timeouts, making it suitable for sites with large collections of media files. The plugin provides a clear list of attachments that are not referenced in posts, pages, and various custom post types, allowing for efficient management of your media assets.

The plugin features a progress display during scans, bulk delete options, and individual delete buttons with confirmation dialogs. It also includes optional helpers for the Photo Gallery (10Web), ensuring that users can manage their media effectively without losing important files like logos or featured images.

Best for: This plugin is suitable for WordPress users with large media libraries who want to clean up unused files.

What it does well

  • Resumable AJAX batch scans reduce timeout risks
  • Accurate detection of unused media files
  • Bulk delete option with confirmation dialogs
  • Clear list of attachments with thumbnails and quick inspect links
  • Compatible with large media libraries

Where it falls short

  • Limited information on performance in different hosting environments
  • No details on support or updates beyond the last update date

Verdict

Unused Media Checker provides a straightforward solution for managing unused media files, particularly beneficial for users with extensive media collections.

From the developer

Der Webfuchs's own description of Unused Media Checker, lightly tidied.

English

Unused Media Checker helps you identify, inspect, and safely remove unused media files from your WordPress Media Library.

The Media Library scan runs in small, resumable batches instead of one long request. This reduces the risk of gateway timeouts on sites with large media libraries. If the scan page is closed or reloaded, returning to the page resumes the saved scan progress.

Version 1.4.0 has been tested on development and staging installations with Media Libraries containing more than 6,000 files. Actual scan time depends on the hosting environment, content volume and enabled integrations.

The plugin analyzes your site and lists attachments that are not referenced in:

  • Posts, pages, and all public custom post types (including featured images/thumbnails)
  • Post content (Gutenberg blocks and classic content with wp-image-ID classes)
  • Direct image URLs from the uploads folder (wp-content/uploads/...)
  • Advanced Ads (media referenced via the advanced_ads_media meta)
  • Theme Customizer (site logo, site icon, header image, background image – including retina variants)
  • Rank Math FAQ blocks (images stored in FAQ block attributes)
  • Photo Gallery (10Web): optional filename-based warning in the unused list (usage is not mapped via attachment IDs)

Key features:

  • Resumable AJAX batch scan with progress display for large Media Libraries
  • Persistent scan snapshots for fast pagination and safer deletion checks
  • Clear list of potentially unused attachments with thumbnails, title, date and quick “Inspect” link
  • Accurate detection that respects logos, favicons, featured images and common SEO/ads integrations
  • Bulk delete with nonce protection and clear success messages – no unexpected white screens
  • Safe individual delete buttons per item with confirmation dialog
  • Pagination and list rendering powered by WordPress’s native WP_List_Table class
  • Optional Photo Gallery (10Web) helpers:
    • Media Library warning when a file with the same name exists in Photo Gallery
    • Photo Gallery files report (uploads/photo-gallery/) with grouping and an “unused motif” filter

    Deutsch

    Unused Media Checker hilft Ihnen, ungenutzte Dateien in Ihrer WordPress‑Mediathek zu identifizieren, zu überprüfen und sicher zu entfernen.

    Der Mediathek-Scan läuft in kleinen, fortsetzbaren Arbeitsschritten statt in einer einzigen langen Anfrage. Dadurch sinkt bei großen Mediatheken das Risiko eines Gateway-Timeouts. Wird die Scan-Seite geschlossen oder neu geladen, setzt das Plugin den gespeicherten Fortschritt beim nächsten Aufruf fort.

    Version 1.4.0 wurde in Entwicklungs- und Staging-Installationen mit Mediatheken mit mehr als 6.000 Dateien getestet. Die tatsächliche Scandauer hängt vom Hosting, dem Inhaltsumfang und den aktivierten Integrationen ab.

    Das Plugin analysiert Ihre Website und listet Anhänge, die nicht referenziert werden in:

    • Beiträgen, Seiten und allen öffentlichen Custom Post Types (inkl. Beitragsbilder/Thumbnails)
    • Beitragsinhalten (Gutenberg‑Blöcke und klassischer Editor mit wp-image-ID‑Klassen)
    • Direkt eingebundenen Bild‑URLs aus dem Uploads‑Ordner (wp-content/uploads/...)
    • Advanced Ads (Medien im Meta‑Feld advanced_ads_media)
    • Theme‑Customizer (Website‑Logo, Website‑Icon, Header‑Bild, Hintergrundbild – inkl. Retina‑Varianten)
    • Rank‑Math‑FAQ‑Blöcken (Bilder in den FAQ‑Block‑Attributen)
    • Photo Gallery (10Web): optionaler Dateinamen‑Hinweis in der Unused‑Liste (Nutzung wird nicht über Attachment‑IDs gemappt)

    Funktionen:

    • Fortsetzbarer AJAX-Batch-Scan mit Fortschrittsanzeige für große Mediatheken
    • Persistente Scan-Snapshots für schnelle Paginierung und sicherere Löschprüfungen
    • Übersichtliche Liste potenziell ungenutzter Anhänge mit Vorschaubild, Titel, Datum und “Inspect”‑Link
    • Präzise Erkennung, die Logos, Favicons, Beitragsbilder und gängige SEO/Ads‑Integrationen berücksichtigt
    • Massenlöschung mit Nonce‑Schutz und klaren Erfolgsmeldungen – keine unerwarteten weißen Seiten
    • Sicheres, einzelnes Löschen je Datei mit Bestätigungsdialog
    • Massenaktionen und Paginierung basierend auf der WordPress‑Klasse WP_List_Table
    • Optionale Photo Gallery (10Web) Hilfen:
      • Warnhinweis in der Mediathek‑Unused‑Liste, wenn ein gleichnamiges File in Photo Gallery existiert
      • Report für Photo Gallery Dateien (uploads/photo-gallery/) inkl. Gruppierung und Filter „Nur ungenutzte Motive“

      Read the full description on the official page →

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