Download Media Library

Need to backup your images? Migrating to a new host? Want monthly archives of uploaded media? This module packages your media library into downloadable ZIP files — the entire library or specific months.

Use Cases

  • Create complete media library backups before migrations
  • Archive monthly uploads for compliance or records
  • Package media for client delivery
  • Download specific months for selective restoration

How It Works

  1. Choose what to download: entire library or specific months
  2. Module scans your uploads directory
  3. Creates a ZIP file in background
  4. Provides download link when ready
  5. ZIP files auto-expire after 24 hours

Accessing Downloads

In the module settings panel:

  1. View total media library size
  2. See available months with file counts
  3. Click Download All for entire library
  4. Or click individual months to download specific periods

Download Options

Full Library

Downloads everything in wp-content/uploads:

  • All images, documents, videos, audio
  • All subdirectories and year/month folders
  • Preserves folder structure

By Month

Downloads a specific year/month folder:

  • Faster for large libraries
  • Useful for recent backup needs
  • Smaller, more manageable files

File Management

Generated ZIPs

ZIPs are stored in wp-content/uploads/switchboard-downloads/:

  • Unique filename with timestamp
  • Auto-deleted after 24 hours by cron
  • Or manually delete from settings panel

Existing ZIPs

The settings panel shows previously generated ZIPs:

  • File name and size
  • Creation date
  • Download or delete buttons

Technical Details

AspectDetail
ZIP MethodPHP ZipArchive
Storage Locationwp-content/uploads/switchboard-downloads/
Auto-Expiry24 hours
ProcessingBackground with AJAX progress
Max SizeLimited by PHP memory/timeout

Large Library Handling

For very large libraries:

  • Progress bar shows files processed
  • ZIP creation runs in batches
  • Consider downloading by month for huge libraries
  • Server timeout limits may affect full downloads

FAQ

How long does the ZIP take to create?Depends on library size and server speed. Small libraries (under 1GB) typically complete in minutes. Multi-GB libraries may take longer.
Why did my download fail?Large libraries may hit PHP timeout or memory limits. Try downloading by month instead, or contact your host about increasing limits.
Are thumbnails included?Yes. The ZIP includes everything in your uploads folder, including all generated thumbnail sizes.
Can I schedule automatic backups?This module is for on-demand downloads. For scheduled backups, use the Simple Backups module or a dedicated backup solution.
Do ZIP files count against my storage?Yes, temporarily. ZIPs auto-delete after 24 hours. You can also manually delete them immediately after downloading.

For site migrations, download the media library ZIP, then use the Import Media feature on the new site (or upload via FTP) to restore all files.

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