{"id":14779,"date":"2025-11-03T11:44:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/webguide\/?page_id=14779"},"modified":"2025-11-18T09:23:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T14:23:05","slug":"how-to-delete-media-files","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/webguide\/userguide\/media\/how-to-delete-media-files\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Delete Media Files"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maintain a Clean Media Library<\/h2>\n

Regularly review your Media Library to remove duplicates, unused files, or expired content. A tidy library improves site speed and makes it easier for editors to find assets.<\/p>\n

Once deleted, a media file cannot be recovered<\/strong>. If the file was linked or embedded on any page, those links will break.<\/p>\n

\n

How to Delete a Media File<\/h2>\n

Option 1: Delete a Single File<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. In your WordPress dashboard, click on the Media<\/strong> link.<\/li>\n
  2. From the List View<\/strong>:\n
      \n
    1. Hover over the file you want to remove.<\/li>\n
    2. Click Delete Permanently<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    4. From the Grid View:\n
        \n
      1. Click on the file you wish to delete. This will bring up the Attachment Details<\/strong> panel.<\/li>\n
      2. Click the Delete Permanently<\/strong> link.<\/li>\n
      3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Option 2: Delete Multiple Files<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. In your WordPress dashboard, click on the Media<\/strong> link.<\/li>\n
        2. Switch to List View<\/strong> \"The.<\/li>\n
        3. Use the checkboxes beside each file to select multiple items.<\/li>\n
        4. From the Bulk Actions<\/strong> dropdown menu, select Delete Permanently<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        5. Click Apply<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        6. Confirm the deletion when prompted.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Maintain a Clean Media Library Regularly review your Media Library to remove duplicates, unused files, or expired content. A tidy library improves site speed and makes it easier for editors to find assets. Once deleted, a media file cannot be recovered. If the file was linked or embedded on any page, those links will break. … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3206,"featured_media":0,"parent":2216,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-14779","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Delete Media Files - Web Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/webguide\/userguide\/media\/how-to-delete-media-files\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Delete Media Files - Web Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Maintain a Clean Media Library Regularly review your Media Library to remove duplicates, unused files, or expired content. 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