Overwrite Uploads

Description

By default WordPress doesn’t overwrite an existing file if you upload a new one with the same name and directory. Instead, it appends a number to the end of the filename in order to make it unique, e.g., filename.jpg becomes filename1.jpg.

That isn’t always the desired behavior, so this plugin makes it so that any files uploaded will automatically overwrite existing files in the same folder, rather than creating a second file with a unique name. It will not overwrite files in other folders.

After activating the plugin, you won’t need to do anything else, it’ll start working automatically. If you run into problems, please check the FAQ and existing support forum posts before opening a new support request.

Installation

For help installing this (or any other) WordPress plugin, please read the Managing Plugins article on the Codex.

Once the plugin is installed and activated, it will start to work automatically.

FAQ

Why do I see multiple copies of the file in the Media Library

WordPress allows files to have the same name if they’re not in the same directory. So, wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pizza.jpg can live alongside wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pizza.jpg. This plugin only deletes existing files if they are in the same folder that the new file will be placed in.

Can I make a donation to support the plugin?

I do this as a way to give back to the WordPress community, so I don’t want to take any donations, but if you’d like to give something I’d encourage you to make a microloan with Kiva.

Do you support this plugin?

I’m happy to fix reproducible bugs, but I don’t have time to help you customize the plugin to fit your specific needs.

Reviews

Thank you

Kimber254 May 28, 2020 1 reply

Thank you for updating the plugin.

Still kinda working.

prohaska January 7, 2020

It’s kind of working. I uploaded a bulk of 150 pix. all with a very simple name A10.jpg A11.jpg and so on. The Plugin worked. Some old versions of the images still remain in some part of the website. Maybe a caching problem…. But so far so good. PS: Newest Version of WordPress – Jan. 2020 und WooCommerce 2020…

Was a great plugin but doesn’t work any more

sorayabxl May 17, 2019

I used this plugin for years and found it super helpful but it doesn’t work any more with WordPress 5.2 and I had to de-install it. A pity it wasn’t maintained!

Doesn't work

pcp81215 September 3, 2016 1 reply

This plugin seems incompatible with the current version of Wordpress. I installed it and tried to upload an image to overwrite another one…and there was no change. Wordpress preserved the initial upload just as it normally does.

Clear as mud

Matt Peskett September 3, 2016 1 reply

Couldn’t find any instructions on how this is supposed to work nor any trace of it inside admin after install and activation.

Contributors & Developers

Changelog

1.2 (2017-04-01)

• [NEW] Added support for sideloaded images (typically done by plugins), in addition to regular manual uploads. Props wayneallen-1
• [FIX] Filenames with spaces and other non-standard characters are now overwritten. Props ascottmccauley

1.1 (2013-12-14)

• [NEW] Delete existing attachments before a new one is uploaded. This avoids the need to modify WordPress core files.
• [UPDATE] General code cleanup and modernization
• [UPDATE] Removed unnecessary debugging method, activation logic and admin notices support
• [UPDATE] Moved requirements check into bootstrap script
• [UPDATE] Moved overwrite-uploads.php into classes directory
• [UPDATE] Fixed improperly capitalized overwriteUploads class name

1.0.2

• Fixed bug where old Media Library entries weren’t removed if the ‘Organize my uploads into year and month folders’ setting was enabled.
• Setting removed because it’s unnecessary. Plugin will overwrite uploads if activated, and won’t if it isn’t.

1.0.1

• Added network-wide activation for WPMS blogs

1.0

• Initial release