DawsonyWeb – Media Library
Setup and everyday use.

Install the plugin

In WordPress, open Plugins → Add New Plugin and search for DawsonyWeb Media Library. Choose Install Now, then Activate. You can also download the free ZIP here and install it through Upload Plugin.

Open Media → DawsonyWeb Library. You do not need an account or licence key. The plugin is available in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory.

Find your way around

Open Media → DawsonyWeb Library. The sidebar has All files, Unfiled, Favourites, Missing alt text and Archive. Search by title or filename, choose a file type and sort order, or switch between grid and list views.

Create a folder and choose a parent for subfolders. Move selected files with Move or drag them onto a folder in the sidebar. Folders are virtual: no file path or URL changes. The selected folder shows its direct files, rather than all descendants. Upload files into the current folder.

Crop, resize and compress

Open a static image and choose Crop, resize & compress. Draw a crop on the original or enter Crop X, Crop Y, width and height in pixels. Choose a ratio preset, rotate clockwise or flip. Enter a maximum width or height for proportional resizing without upscaling. Zero keeps the current size.

The preview shows crop and layout. Changes run in this order: crop, rotate, flip, resize, compression. Quality ranges from 40 to 100. PNG is lossless and might not get smaller. Keep Save as a new copy selected to preserve the original. WebP and AVIF conversion must be a new copy and depend on the server’s image editor.

Bulk Compress processes selected compatible images one at a time and reports errors. Compression leaves originals unchanged when the output would be larger. Animated images, SVG editing and remote-only files are excluded.

Replace an image already used on your site

Open the image and choose Replace image. Upload a static image in the same format. The attachment ID, full filename and recorded generated-size filenames remain the same. WordPress image blocks, featured images and galleries continue using those references. Newly registered image sizes may also be generated.

Refresh browser, page and CDN caches after replacement. Custom page-builder exports, external copies and remote storage are not automatically updated. Use matching proportions for fixed-size layouts. Check important pages after every replacement. Changing format requires a new attachment with a new URL.

Restore the previous version

After changing an original, Restore previous version is available while its snapshot exists. Restore swaps the saved previous version with the current version, including recorded sizes and attachment metadata. Concurrent edits are rejected so you can reload the current revision.

Snapshots are held in a private system temporary directory outside WordPress. A host can clear this storage. Only one previous version is retained. Keep normal site backups for long-term recovery. If private storage cannot be created safely, the plugin refuses to change the existing image.

Bulk details, copies and ZIP downloads

Select up to 50 files, including selections across pages. Edit details lets you change each title, alt text, caption and description, or preview a title prefix and image alt-text pattern using {title} and {n}. Write useful image descriptions and review the preview before saving.

Convert format creates separate copies of selected static images, with WebP selected by default when supported. Choose a server-supported format and a quality from 40 to 100. Existing attachments, image URLs and pages remain unchanged. Files already in the target format and files that cannot be edited are skipped. Individual errors do not stop the remaining images. Results compare original and converted file sizes and let you open each new copy.

Use the converted copies in your page images to serve the new format. Conversion alone does not update existing pages or improve their download size. Smaller files are not guaranteed. Keeping originals and copies uses additional storage. PNG is lossless; JPEG does not retain transparency.

Make a copy creates a separate local attachment. Download ZIP includes selected local originals up to a combined 250 MB. WordPress upload limits, PHP memory and execution time still apply. Large files or large batches may need smaller operations.

Usage checks, archive and deletion

Find usage looks for known WordPress content and blocks, featured images, classic galleries and WooCommerce product galleries in posts you can edit. Results are bounded to 200 candidate posts. Custom fields, widgets, themes and page builders can store other references. No matches never proves a file is unused.

Archive hides items in this workspace only. It does not unpublish them, change URLs or remove them from the standard Media Library. Delete permanently removes the attachment and files after typing DELETE. Check pages and keep a backup before deleting.

Use the standard WordPress media tools

The original Media Library and editor upload dialogs stay available. Use their Media folder filter to find files and the attachment Folder field to assign them.

Existing WordPress attachment permissions apply. Users without permission to edit other people’s media see their own files in this workspace. Favourites are personal; folder names are shared across users with upload access. Administrators can manage folders, and a folder’s creator can manage their own.

Hosting requirements and troubleshooting

WordPress 6.5 or later and PHP 8.0 or later are required. Image editing needs a working WordPress GD or Imagick editor, local originals within WordPress uploads, writable uploads and safe private system temporary storage. ZIP downloads require PHP ZIP support. Format support varies by host.

Image operations accept static files under 30 MB and 40 megapixels. Folder depth is limited to ten levels and the library supports up to 500 folders. These operational bounds protect the server; there is no account, licence or paid feature unlock.

If a save reports a changed revision, reload the file details and retry. If storage or image formats are unavailable, check PHP image extensions and filesystem permissions with the host. The site REST API must remain accessible to authenticated users. For offloaded media, organise folders here and edit remote originals through your storage provider.

Test important workflows on staging. Multisite data is per site; network-wide organisation is not included. Custom media storage, builders and unusual hosting setups need their own checks.

Privacy and removal

The plugin has no telemetry, external image processing or cloud account. Files and organisation data remain on your server. Favourites are stored against WordPress users and the browser keeps a grid or list preference. Read the separate plugin privacy notice for data and retention details.

Deactivation and removal retain folders, favourites and archive markers so reinstallation can recover them. Media and edits remain. The host can remove temporary snapshots; deleting an attachment removes its available snapshot. Removing the plugin does not undo image changes.

Updates and support

Version 1.1.1 is available from WordPress.org and as a direct ZIP download here. Updates use the normal WordPress plugin update screen. Back up and test on staging before updating.

For support, use the WordPress.org support forum or contact DawsonyWeb. Include versions, the image format and steps to reproduce, with private details removed.