wpm

devenia-replace-media

plugin

1.7.5 • public • Published 2 days ago

Replace media files while keeping the same URL. Works in Media Library, Elementor, and more.

cache bustingelementormedia libraryreplace imagereplace media
Overview Versions Dependencies

Description

Devenia Replace Media lets you replace any media file in WordPress while keeping the original URL intact. Useful for updating images without changing links.

Key Features

  • Keep Your URLs - Replace the file while keeping the URL, helping avoid broken links.
  • Works Everywhere - Media Library list view, Elementor gallery editor, and standard WordPress media modals.
  • Preserves Metadata - Captions, alt text, titles, and descriptions stay intact.
  • Automatic Cache Busting - Appends a version parameter after replacement, which can help browsers and CDNs fetch the updated file.
  • Regenerates Thumbnails - All image sizes are automatically regenerated after replacement.
  • Simple Interface - Just click "Replace File", upload your new file, done.

Where It Works

  • Media Library - "Replace File" link appears in the list view actions
  • Elementor Gallery Editor - Blue "Replace File" button in attachment details
  • WordPress Media Modal - Works in the standard media selector used by Gutenberg and Classic Editor

Use Cases

  • Update product images without changing URLs
  • Fix typos in PDFs or documents
  • Replace outdated screenshots
  • Update seasonal images across your site
  • Swap placeholder images for final versions

Why Cache Busting Matters

When you replace an image, browsers may show an older cached version. This plugin appends a version parameter to image URLs after replacement to help caches fetch the updated file.

Installation

  1. Upload the devenia-replace-media folder to /wp-content/plugins/
  2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress
  3. That's it! Look for "Replace File" links in your Media Library

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I replace an image with a different file type?

Yes. For example, you can replace a JPG with a PNG. The URL path stays the same, but the MIME type is updated.

Does it preserve my captions and alt text?

Yes. All attachment metadata (title, caption, alt text, description) is preserved.

Does it work with CDNs?

Often, yes. The cache-busting version parameter can help CDNs serve the updated file, but behavior depends on your CDN configuration.

I replaced an image but still see the old one. What do I do?

Try a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R). The plugin adds cache-busting parameters, but your browser may have a very aggressive cache. For images replaced before installing this plugin, the cache-busting won't apply.

What file types can I replace?

Any file type that WordPress allows in the Media Library: images (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP), documents (PDF, DOC), audio, video, and more.

Will this break my existing links?

The file URL stays the same; only the file content changes.

Screenshots

Replace File link in Media Library list view

Replace File link in Media Library list view

Replace File button in Elementor gallery editor

Replace File button in Elementor gallery editor

Simple upload interface

Simple upload interface

Changelog

1.7.5

  • Fixed: Replace File button injection in Media Library grid/details view on newer WordPress admin markup
  • Improved: More robust attachment ID detection across WP media frames and DOM
  • Fixed: Media Library grid view details modal now detects attachment ID via ?item=<ID>
  • Improved: Cache busting now also applies to responsive image srcset and works across repeated replacements
  • Improved: After replacement, Media Library refresh behavior is more reliable
  • Improved: Safer file replacement flow (staged write + rollback) and stricter permissions check

1.7.4

  • Added: Replace File button on Edit Media screen

1.7.3

  • Fixed: Use wp_add_inline_script() and wp_print_inline_script_tag() instead of raw script tags
  • Fixed: Added nonce verification for GET requests to replacement page
  • Fixed: Wrapped require_once calls with function_exists checks
  • Fixed: Improved file upload validation with is_uploaded_file(), sanitize_file_name(), and sanitize_mime_type()
  • Added: User capability check (upload_files) in replacement function
  • Improved: Better code documentation and WordPress Coding Standards compliance

1.7.2

  • Changed slug to devenia-replace-media (WordPress.org requirement)

1.7.1

  • Fixed text domain to match plugin slug

1.7

  • Fixed nonce verification warnings in file upload handling
  • Improved input validation for WordPress.org Plugin Check compliance
  • Shortened short description to meet 150 character limit

1.6

  • Uses WordPress Filesystem API for all file operations
  • Improved security and WordPress.org compatibility

1.5

  • Added automatic cache busting - URLs now include version parameter after replacement
  • Helps caches fetch updated files without manual cache clearing

1.4

  • Added support for Elementor gallery editor
  • Uses elementor/editor/footer hook for proper script loading

1.3

  • Changed script loading method for better compatibility

1.2

  • Improved attachment ID detection in media modals

1.1

  • Added JavaScript injection for media modal support

1.0

  • Initial release
  • Replace files from Media Library list view
  • Preserve metadata and regenerate thumbnails

Upgrade Notice

1.5

Adds automatic cache busting to help caches fetch updated files after replacement.

1.6

Uses WordPress Filesystem API for improved security and WordPress.org compatibility.

1.7

Fixes Plugin Check warnings for WordPress.org compliance.