Concept
A media library audit is a systematic review of all files in a WordPress Media Library to identify problems: unused files, duplicates, missing metadata, unoptimised images, and files in inefficient formats. Mediapapa automates this audit through Library Health scoring and the usage index.
What a manual audit involves
Without tooling, a media library audit requires: exporting the attachment list from the database, checking each file’s metadata completeness, identifying files that are not referenced in any post or page, comparing file sizes against expected sizes for web delivery, and noting files in outdated formats.
On a library of 5,000 files, a manual audit takes days. On a library of 50,000 files, it is not practical without automation.
Automated audit with Mediapapa
Mediapapa’s Library Health dashboard provides the equivalent of a media library audit in minutes. Run a scan and you receive: a library-wide health score, per-file Media Scores, a list of unused files confirmed by the full usage index, duplicate groups identified by content hash, and prioritised recommended actions.
The first scan after installing Mediapapa is effectively a baseline audit. Subsequent scans show whether the library is improving or degrading over time.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I audit my media library?
On an active site with regular content publishing, a monthly Library Health check is a reasonable cadence. For sites with multiple contributors, weekly scans via scheduled automation in Mediapapa Pro keep the index current and catch issues before they accumulate.
Does an audit show files that are safe to delete?
An audit identifies unused files — files with zero references in the usage index. Whether they are “safe to delete” depends on whether the scan is current and complete. Always run a fresh scan before bulk deletion and start with a small test batch on a staging copy if you have any uncertainty about the index coverage.
Related terms: Library Health · Unused Media · Duplicate Images · Media Governance
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