Rename media in a controlled batch
Although the screen can prepare several requested names, analyze and apply a small batch first. A complete backup remains necessary even though the tool creates rollback data.
Prepare the attachments
- Back up the database and uploads directory.
- Purge or pause media jobs that could change the same attachments.
- Open Media → Media renamer.
- Search or use Load more to find the images.
- Enter each new filename without its extension.
- Choose whether the attachment slug or title should follow the new base name.
- Leave the advanced name-only replacement off unless its wider matching risk is understood.
The normal replacement uses full URLs, public paths, upload-relative paths, and filesystem references. Advanced: also replace the filename without its folder path can touch unrelated values containing the same basename and is disabled by default.
Analyze before applying
Click Analyze changes (dry run). The tool checks:
- the main file, WordPress original image where present, generated sizes, and WebP companions;
- attachment metadata and any attachments sharing the same physical file;
- detected database occurrences, including serialized values;
- managed settings occurrences;
- destination collisions and scan warnings.
Read every file mapping and count. If the report is surprising, change the request and analyze again; do not apply it to see what happens.
Apply the analyzed state
- Confirm no editor or background task changed the attachment after analysis.
- Click Apply analyzed changes.
- Keep the page open while files, attachments, references, and settings are processed.
- Wait for the completion message.
- Test the new attachment URL, all generated sizes, and frontend pages from the report.
- Purge relevant page, object, image, and CDN caches.
- Add redirects from important indexed old URLs when required by the site’s SEO policy.
The tool revalidates source and destination files before application. If the attachment changed after the dry run, run the analysis again.