Description
WordPress lets you bulk-select media files in the Media Library, but only to delete them. ZipMyMedia adds the missing piece: a “Download Selected” button that zips up all the selected files and sends them to your browser as a single download.
It works seamlessly in both grid view and list view, and uses WordPress’s native UI patterns so the button feels like a built-in feature.
Features
- Adds a “Download Selected” button next to “Delete permanently” in grid view bulk-select mode
- Adds a “Download Selected” option in the bulk actions dropdown in list view
- Button stays disabled until you actually select something, with a live count of selected items
- Single files download directly (no unnecessary zipping)
- Multiple files are bundled into a timestamped ZIP archive
- Handles duplicate filenames automatically (appends attachment IDs)
- Uses nonce verification and capability checks for security
- No settings page, no database tables — install and it just works
Use cases
- Migrating media from one site to another
- Downloading a batch of client photos in one go
- Backing up specific media files without grabbing the entire uploads folder
- Pulling assets for offline editing
Requirements
- WordPress 5.5 or higher
- PHP 7.4 or higher
- PHP
ZipArchiveextension (available on virtually all hosts by default)
Installation
Automatic install
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin
- Search for “ZipMyMedia”
- Click Install Now, then Activate
- Open your Media Library — the new button is ready to use
Manual install
- Download the plugin ZIP file
- Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin in your WordPress admin
- Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
- Click Activate Plugin
How to use it
Grid view:
1. Go to Media > Library
2. Click the Bulk Select button in the top toolbar
3. Click on the media items you want to download
4. Click the blue Download Selected button next to “Delete permanently”
List view:
1. Switch to list view from the toggle near the search bar
2. Tick the checkboxes next to the items you want to download
3. Choose Download Selected from the Bulk actions dropdown
4. Click Apply
FAQ
-
Where do the downloaded files come from?
-
The plugin downloads the original files from your
/wp-content/uploads/folder — the same files WordPress stored when you uploaded them. -
Are image thumbnails included in the ZIP?
-
No. Only the original full-size files are included. The smaller thumbnail versions (e.g.
image-150x150.jpg) are skipped. -
Is there a file size or count limit?
-
The plugin itself doesn’t enforce a limit, but your server’s PHP
memory_limit,max_execution_time, and available disk space will. For very large batches (hundreds of MB or more), make sure your hosting allows long-running processes. -
Where is the ZIP file created?
-
The ZIP is temporarily created in your
/wp-content/uploads/folder, streamed to your browser, and then immediately deleted. Nothing is left behind on your server. -
Any user with the
upload_filescapability — by default that’s Authors, Editors, and Administrators. The same group of users who can upload media can download it in bulk. -
Does this work on multisite?
-
Yes. Each subsite’s Media Library has its own button, and downloads are scoped to that subsite’s uploads.
-
Will this conflict with other media library plugins?
-
The plugin is intentionally non-invasive — it only adds a button and an AJAX handler. It shouldn’t conflict with other plugins that modify the media library, but if you run into issues, please open a support ticket.
-
Building the ZIP takes a moment for larger batches. Once the browser starts the download, the button resets.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“ZipMyMedia” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “ZipMyMedia” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.3.0
- Fixed an infinite-loop bug in the MutationObserver that caused the browser to slow down on busy admin pages
- Added requestAnimationFrame batching for DOM mutation handling
- Idempotent button state updates to prevent self-triggering observer callbacks
- Skip mutations originating from inside the plugin’s own button
- Added cleanup on page unload to disconnect the observer
1.2.0
- Button now starts disabled and only enables when items are selected
- Live selection count shown in the button label, e.g. “Download Selected (3)”
- Removed dashicons icon (was rendering as a blank box on some setups) in favor of plain text
1.1.0
- Button now only appears when bulk-select mode is active (was previously visible all the time)
- Improved CSS to match WordPress native button styling
- Better DOM observation to react to mode toggles
1.0.0
- Initial release
- Grid view download button
- List view bulk action option
- Single-file direct download, multi-file ZIP archive