Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download Media Library in WordPress Without a Plugin

WordPress offers a convenient way to manage media files such as images, videos, and audio files. The media library allows you to store and organize your media files and helps you easily add them to your posts and pages.

Sometimes, you may need to download your entire media library for backup or website migration purposes. While there are numerous plugins available to streamline the process, you don't necessarily need one. In this article, we will show you how to download your WordPress media library without a plugin.

1. Export Media Library via WordPress Dashboard

The first method to download your media library in WordPress is through the built-in export feature. Here's how to do it:

1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Click on the 'Tools' menu and select 'Export'.
3. On the Export screen, select the 'Media' option and click on the 'Download Export File' button.
4. Your media library will be downloaded as an XML file. You can use this file to import your media files to another WordPress site or for backup purposes.

2. FTP download

If you want to download your media files directly from your website's server, you can use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to do so.

1. Login to your website's FTP account using an FTP client such as Filezilla.
2. Navigate to the wp-content/uploads folder.
3. From here, you can either select individual files or folders to download, or you can download everything in the uploads folder at once.

3. cPanel download

If your hosting provider offers cPanel access, you can also download your media library from within cPanel. Here's how to do it:

1. Login to your cPanel account and navigate to the 'File Manager'.
2. In the public_html folder, locate the wp-content folder and open it.
3. From here, navigate to the uploads folder, where you will find all media files.
4. Select the files and folders you want to download and click on the 'Download' button.

Conclusion

In summary, downloading your WordPress media library without a plugin is a straightforward process. You can export a file from the WordPress dashboard, use FTP for direct server access, or use cPanel for a more convenient option. Whatever method you choose, it's always a good idea to keep a backup of your media files as they are precious assets to your website.