Images are essential for enhancing the user experience and visual appeal of a WordPress website. However, as you add and delete images over time, your media library can become cluttered with unused images that slow down your site and waste valuable storage space. In this article, we’ll show you how to remove unused images from your WordPress site without using a plugin.
Step 1: Identify Unused Images
To begin, you’ll need to identify which images are not being used on your site. Using tools like the Media Cleaner or Unused Images plugins can help, but we’ll show you how to do it manually. One way is to use a broken link checker to find any links that lead to non-existent files, including images.
Step 2: Backup Your Site To Remove Unused Images
Before deleting any files, it’s crucial to back up your website to avoid losing data. You can do this with a backup plugin or your hosting provider’s backup tools. This ensures you can restore your site to its previous state if anything goes wrong.
Step 3: Delete Unused Images
Once you’ve identified the unused images and backed up your website, you can delete them. Simply go to your media library, select the images you want to delete and click “delete permanently.”
Step 4: Update Your Posts and Pages
After deleting the unused images, you need to update any posts or pages that used them. Edit the posts or pages and replace the deleted images with relevant ones.
Step 5: Optimize Your Media Library
To avoid cluttering your media library with unused images in the future, regularly optimize it. Compress and resize images, use compression plugins, and delete any unused images.
In conclusion, removing unused images from your WordPress site can improve performance and save storage space. By following these steps, you can identify and remove unused images without a plugin. Remember to back up your website before deleting files and regularly optimize your media library to prevent cluttering.
