Description
Export Media as ZIP is a lightweight plugin that lets administrators export images from the WordPress media library as a ZIP file. Choose exactly what to download using the year and image size filters before exporting.
Key Features
- Export JPG, PNG, GIF, JPEG, and WEBP images
- Filter by year — select one or more upload years to narrow the export
- Filter by image size — choose from Full Size (original) or any intermediate size registered by WordPress core, your active theme, or plugins (e.g. Thumbnail, Medium, Large, custom sizes)
- Live export preview shows how many images match the current filters before you start
- Real-time progress bar during export
- Auto-expiring ZIP file — cleaned up automatically after 5 minutes
- Admin-only access
- No external dependencies
Support
If you have any questions or need help, please open an issue on GitHub or contact me at huzoorbux@gmail.com.
Screenshots
Export page with Year and Image Size filter dropdowns 
Real-time progress bar during export 
Download ready with export summary
Installation
- Upload the plugin folder to
/wp-content/plugins/export-media-as-zipor install via the WordPress Plugin Directory. - Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
- Go to Media > Export Media as ZIP.
- Use the Year and Image Size dropdowns to select what to export.
- Click Export Images and download the generated ZIP.
FAQ
-
Who can access the export feature?
-
Only users with the
manage_optionscapability (administrators) can access the export page. -
What file types are included?
-
Only image files —
.jpg,.jpeg,.png,.gif, and.webp. -
What image sizes can I export?
-
You can export the original uploaded file (Full Size) and any intermediate size WordPress has generated for that image. The available sizes depend on your active theme and plugins. The plugin uses
wp_get_registered_image_subsizes()to list all registered sizes automatically. -
Can I export images from a specific year only?
-
Yes. The Year filter shows all years that have image uploads, with a count per year. Select one or more years before exporting.
-
Where is the ZIP file stored?
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The ZIP is written temporarily to your uploads directory and deleted automatically after 5 minutes via a scheduled WP-Cron event.
-
Will it export every size variant of every image?
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Only sizes you check in the Image Size dropdown are included. If an intermediate size was never generated for a particular image, that file is silently skipped.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“Export Media as ZIP” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Export Media as ZIP” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.7
- Added Year filter — export images from one or more specific upload years
- Added Image Size filter — choose Full Size (original) and/or any intermediate size registered by the theme or plugins
- Live export preview shows image and size count before starting
- Replaced flat checkbox layout with dropdown-style filter UI
- Export now uses WP_Query against the database instead of filesystem scanning, ensuring only real media library attachments are included
- Uses wp_get_registered_image_subsizes() (WP 5.3+) with fallback for older installs
1.6
- Added media library statistics panel (total images, total size, file type breakdown)
- Added real-time progress bar with file counter
- Added auto-cleanup of expired ZIP files via WP-Cron
- Improved error handling and user messaging
1.5
- Tested up to WordPress 6.9
1.4
- Initial release