Bulk uploading files to your WordPress media library allows you to upload a big number of files or files with large file sizes without the pains of trying to utilize the WordPress built-in upload functionality. But while this process can definitely make your life easier in certain situations, it's non quite every bit simple as just uploading files via FTP. You lot'll need to complete a few added steps if you want those files to actually be available within your WordPress media library. Below, we'll take you through the full process from kickoff to cease.

When Is It Helpful to Majority Upload Files to Your WordPress Media Library?

The regular WordPress media library upload functionality is perfectly fine as long equally you're not trying to upload:

  • Files with large file sizes (some WordPress sites accept a max upload size equally low as 2MB by default)
  • Large numbers of individual files (retrieve in the hundreds)

But there may come a time when you need to complete one of the higher up actions. And in those situations, bulk uploading files to your media library via FTP offers a much better solution than trying to use the congenital-in media library upload tool.

Why Can't You lot Just Upload Files Via FTP And Stop In that location?

It'due south totally possible to bulk upload files via FTP without completing any boosted steps. The problem just arises if y'all want those files to be bachelor inside your WordPress media library.

Meet, once you upload a file via FTP, information technology's alive on your server. That is, you could link to it direct and the file would load. Just while you tin link directly to the file, it won't announced in your WordPress media library unless you complete a few additional actions to register the uploaded file with WordPress.

And then if you desire the files y'all majority upload to actually appear in your media library, you need to complete the following process:

  • Upload the files to your uploads binder via FTP
  • Use a free WordPress plugin to annals the files you lot uploaded with your WordPress media library

Below, we'll take you through all of the steps in particular. You lot don't need any specialized noesis to complete the procedure – just follow forth with the screenshots!

How to Bulk Upload Files to WordPress Media Library

In order to bulk upload your files to the WordPress media library, yous'll need a few tools and pieces of data:

  • The FTP business relationship details for your host – we'll show you how to find these for your Kinsta account. If y'all're using a different host, you'll demand to get those details from your own hosting dashboard.
  • An FTP program – a piece of software that allows you to upload files to your host. FileZilla is a proficient gratuitous option, but yous can option another FTP plan if you'd adopt.
  • Add From Server plugin this free plugin helps you to register your uploaded files to your media library.

Pace ane: Connect to Your Website via FTP

To get started, you'll need to connect to your site via FTP or SFTP (understand the deviation between the two here). SFTP is just brusk for Secure FTP. Kinsta exclusively uses SFTP, simply some other hosts operate on FTP still.

Remember – you'll need an FTP program to do this. Nosotros'll apply FileZilla in our screenshots, merely you can employ a dissimilar FTP programme if you'd like.

To actually connect, you'll need your FTP login details (specifically SFTP for Kinsta). If you're using Kinsta, you tin can find these details past going to the Sites > Your Site > Info in MyKinsta.

In the SFTP/SSH section, yous'll demand the host, username, password, and port.

SFTP/SSH details in MyKinsta.
SFTP/SSH details in MyKinsta.

At present, you have all the information you demand to connect via FTP. If you're non using Kinsta, you should be able to become this same information from your host.

Armed with your SFTP details, go dorsum to your FTP program and enter them equally follows:

  • Host your host proper noun preceded by "sftp://". For example: sftp://35.224.lxx.159 . Additionally, some FTP programs allow yous to specify the SFTP method in a separate dropdown. You lot can view a guide for such programs here.
  • Username – from your Kinsta dashboard
  • Password – from your Kinsta dashboard
  • Port – from your Kinsta dashboard
Filezilla login via SFTP
Filezilla login via SFTP

Once you've entered the information, click the Quickconnect button and FileZilla (or your FTP program of choice) volition handle the residue.

Subscribe At present

Step 2: Upload As Many Files Every bit You'd Like

At this point, yous should exist connected to your site via an FTP customer. You can confirm this past looking for the Status: Connected to yoursite.com message:

Connected with Filezilla FTP client
Connected with Filezilla FTP client

Now, yous need to upload your files to the uploads folder in your WordPress site. To do that, aggrandize the folder structure of your Remote Site tab in your FTP program by clicking the + buttons. You can see the file path to follow in the screenshot below:

Expanding FTP folders
Expanding FTP folders

At present, you can navigate to the files you lot'd like to upload in the Local Site tab of your FTP program. All yous demand to do is elevate those files from the Local Site side to the Uploads folder in your Remote Site:

Upload local files via FTP
Upload local files via FTP

Depending on the size of your files, it might have some fourth dimension for them to upload. But other than waiting for the uploads to consummate, you're now finished with this step.

Step iii: Register Your Newly Uploaded Files to the WordPress Media Library

One time the FTP uploads finish, your files are live on your server. But if you lot go to your WordPress site's media library, you'll notice that the files are nowhere to be seen:

WordPress media library
WordPress media library

To bring those files into your library, you lot need to install and actuate the free Add From Server plugin.

Once the plugin is activated, y'all tin can navigate to Media → Add From Server. Then click the uploads folder in the list:

Add From Server WordPress plugin
Add together From Server WordPress plugin

Now, you should see a list of the files y'all just uploaded via FTP. Assuming you want to import every single file, you lot tin can merely tick the checkbox to Select All (if not, you can always select individual files). So, click the Import button at the lesser:

Add From Server - select files
Add together From Server – select files

Later on clicking the button, you lot should run across a success message for each individual file at the meridian of your screen:

Adding media library folders via FTP
Adding media library folders via FTP

And when you lot go back to your media library, yous should see all of the files you uploaded via FTP:

FTP files show in WordPress media library
FTP files show in WordPress media library

That's it! You're washed at this signal. That's all you demand to do to majority upload files to your WordPress media library. (recommended tutorial: 4 Handy WordPress Media Library Hacks)

Alternatives

Here are a few alternatives you lot could as well employ to bulk upload and register files inside your WordPress media library.

  • If you'd similar a plugin with a little more complex functionality, you lot can try the gratis Media from FTP plugin. The main advantage of this plugin is the ability to schedule the import process to run automatically. Unless yous specifically need this functionality, though, it's more often than not safer to stick with the transmission approach offered by Add together From Server whenever possible.
  • Yous can also utilise the premium WP All Import plugin to import images from your server.
  • If you want to do information technology straight from the command line you can import images using WP-CLI. The wp media import command allows you to create attachments from local files or URLs.

Save time, costs and maximize site performance with:

  • Instant help from WordPress hosting experts, 24/7.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audition reach with 29 data centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our congenital-in Application Performance Monitoring.

All of that and much more than, in i plan with no long-term contracts, assisted migrations, and a thirty-day-money-back-guarantee. Check out our plans or talk to sales to detect the plan that's right for yous.