Export/Import Media - CalliopeWP
Refreshed Pro 0.4.43

Media migrations, metadata updates & Pro automation

Export, import, update, convert, rollback, and automate your WordPress Media Library with safer CSV workflows built for real sites, agencies, and large libraries.

Download Free View Pro Workflows
Update existing media safely
Rollback restore points
WebP/AVIF conversion

Media work should be safe, reversible, and repeatable.

The new Pro workflow is no longer just about moving files. It helps you update existing media, protect changes with rollback points, convert images when supported, and run repeatable jobs from saved workflows.

Safer Site Migrations

Keep original folders, prevent duplicates, register local files, and use CSV imports without turning your uploads directory into a mess.

Bulk SEO Metadata Updates

Export your library, edit alt text, titles, captions, and descriptions in a spreadsheet, then update only the selected fields in Pro.

Pro Safety Layer

Create restore points before real imports, rollback supported changes from History, and keep detailed logs for troubleshooting.

A safer 4-step workflow

Prepare the CSV, preview what will happen, choose whether to import new files or update existing media, and verify the result from detailed logs.

1

Export

Filter your media and export a clean CSV with the fields you need for migration, SEO review, or editorial cleanup.

2

Edit

Update metadata in Excel, Google Sheets, or your preferred spreadsheet tool. Leave blank fields untouched unless you intentionally want to change them.

3

Run safely

Import new files, update existing media, replace files while keeping IDs, or send larger jobs to the Pro background queue.

4

Verify or rollback

Review History, download logs, re-download export artifacts, and rollback supported Pro import changes when restore points exist.

Free version features

The free plugin stays useful for safe one-off migrations and standard media imports.

CSV Export & Preview

Export media metadata, inspect the CSV structure, and preview import data before processing.

Import New Media

Bring new files into WordPress from URLs or local server paths with controlled batch processing.

Relative Path Support

Preserve year/month upload folders when migrating older libraries and legacy content.

Duplicate Prevention

Avoid repeated files with safety checks based on file name and signature/hash where available.

Metadata Mapping

Map title, alt text, caption, description, and other supported fields during import.

Server-friendly Batches

Process imports in smaller chunks to reduce timeout risk on shared hosting.

Pro workflow

Upgrade when media work becomes repeatable.

Free is still ideal for simple migrations. Pro is for recurring media operations, metadata updates, background processing, rollback safety, conversion, and scheduled workflows.

Free is perfect if...

  • You do occasional imports or migrations.
  • You mainly import brand new files.
  • You can keep the browser open during processing.
  • You only need standard CSV mapping and duplicate prevention.

Upgrade to Pro if...

  • You need to update existing media metadata in bulk.
  • You want rollback restore points before real import changes.
  • You need WebP or AVIF conversion when the server supports it.
  • You want background runs, saved workflows, history, and optional automations.
New Pro capabilities

Built for safer advanced media operations.

Export/Import Media Pro now focuses on reusable workflows, safer updates, restore points, conversion options, and better visibility over every run.

Saved export profiles and presets for repeatable exports and editorial/SEO reviews.
Saved import workflows for advanced imports, remote CSV URLs, and server-side CSV sources.
Update existing media with selected metadata fields so blank CSV cells do not accidentally erase existing content.
Replace physical files while keeping the attachment ID for safer asset refreshes.
Rollback restore points before supported real imports, with rollback actions from Pro History.
Image conversion on import to WebP or AVIF where WordPress and the server support it.
Background queue processing for larger runs that should not depend on an open browser tab.
History, downloadable logs, artifact re-downloads, and optional scheduled automations for recurring work.

Simple pricing for advanced media workflows

One year of updates and support. Cancel anytime.
Includes a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Free

$0

Great for one-off tasks

  • CSV Export & Preview
  • Import New Media
  • Duplicate Prevention
  • Local Import Mode
Download Free
Most Popular

Personal Pro

$19/year

1 site. Updates, rollback, conversion, and automation tools.

  • Update Existing Media
  • Update only selected metadata fields
  • Rollback restore points & History
  • WebP/AVIF conversion when supported
  • Remote CSV URL & server-side CSV
  • Background queue processing
Get Personal License

Agency Pro

$49/year

For multiple client sites and repeatable agency work.

  • All Personal Pro features
  • Multi-site agency license
  • Saved profiles and workflows
  • Scheduled automations
  • Priority email support
  • Ideal for freelancers and agencies
Get Agency License

Detailed Feature Comparison

Core Feature Free Pro Add-on
Export Media Metadata to CSV✔✔
Import New Media Files✔✔
Duplicate Detection (Signature/Hash)✔✔
Honor Original Folder Structure✔✔
Batch Processing in Browser✔✔
Update Existing Metadata—✔
Update Only Selected Fields—✔
Replace Physical Files while Keeping Attachment ID—✔
Image Conversion to WebP/AVIF when Supported—✔
Rollback Restore Points before Supported Imports—✔
Rollback Actions from Pro History—✔
Background Queue Processing—✔
Remote CSV URL and Server-side CSV Sources—✔
Saved Export Profiles and Import Workflows—✔
Optional Scheduled Automations—✔
History, Summaries, Downloadable Logs, and Artifact Re-downloads—✔

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the free version really useful?
Yes. The free version remains a complete tool for one-off migrations: export your media library, import new files, preserve paths, map metadata, and avoid duplicates.
What changed in Pro?
Pro adds reusable export/import workflows, update existing media, selected-field metadata updates, replace-file actions, rollback restore points, WebP/AVIF conversion where supported, background processing, history, logs, and optional automations.
Can I update only the Alt Text for SEO?
Yes. With Pro, choose an update workflow and sync only the metadata fields you actually want to change, such as Alt Text, title, caption, or description.
Can I rollback an import?
Yes, for supported Pro imports created with an active license and restore points. Rollback can restore new attachments, metadata updates, replace-file runs, and converted imports when the required restore data exists.
Can Pro convert images to WebP or AVIF?
Yes, for supported JPG/JPEG and PNG files when WordPress and the server image editor support the selected output format. Unsupported files are imported normally by default.
Do I need to keep the browser window open?
In the free version, yes, because the browser triggers the batches. In Pro, you can use saved workflows and background queue processing for larger jobs.

The Knowledge Base

Complete guides for every feature, written for WordPress site owners of all experience levels.

Getting Started

Export/Import Media is built for safe WordPress media operations: simple migrations in Free, and reusable advanced workflows in Pro.

Initial Setup

  • Install the free plugin from Plugins > Add New.
  • Open Media > Export/Import to export or import media.
  • Install and activate Pro when you need existing-media updates, background jobs, rollback, conversion, saved workflows, or automations.

Start with a small export/import test so you can confirm your CSV structure before running larger jobs.

Exporting to CSV

Generating a CSV of your library is the best way to audit your current SEO metadata or prepare a migration file.

Filter Options

  • Date Range: Export only recently uploaded files.
  • Media Type: Filter to only export Images, PDFs, or Videos.
  • Attachment Context: Choose between all media or only those attached to specific posts.

The resulting file will contain columns for ID, Title, Alt Text, and the direct URL of the asset.

Importing from CSV

This is the primary way to bring new assets into your site or move them from a staging environment.

Safety First: The Preview

When you upload a CSV, the plugin doesn't start immediately. It parses the file and shows you a Visual Preview. This allows you to verify that your "Alt Text" column matches our internal "Alt Text" field.

Batching

WordPress can be slow when processing images. We break your import into small chunks (batches). If the process is interrupted, you can resume right where you left off.

Local Import Mode

A "Normal" import asks WordPress to download a file from a URL. But if you have 50,000 files, downloading them one-by-one is inefficient.

Local Import Mode is for when you have already moved the files to your server (via FTP, SSH, or CPanel). The plugin skips the download step and simply registers the files into the database. It is roughly 10x faster than a standard import.

Honor Relative Paths

WordPress usually organizes media by year and month (e.g., uploads/2024/05/img.jpg).

If you are migrating a site from 2019, your images are in uploads/2019/.... If you do a regular import, WordPress will move them all to the current month's folder, breaking your old post links.

By enabling Honor Relative Path, the plugin forces WordPress to respect the original folder structure defined in your CSV, keeping your site structure and SEO intact.

Updating Existing Media (Pro)

Pro lets you update media already in your library without re-uploading every file.

Typical use case

Export the library, improve alt text and titles in a spreadsheet, then re-import using an update workflow. The plugin matches the existing attachment and updates only the selected metadata fields.

Safer default behavior

Use selected-field updates so blank CSV cells do not accidentally erase existing values unless you intentionally choose a destructive workflow.

Remote CSV Sources (Pro)

Saved import workflows can use a remote CSV URL, such as a public spreadsheet export link, or a server-side CSV path for advanced use cases.

This is useful when the same file is updated regularly and you want WordPress to process it through a repeatable workflow instead of uploading the CSV manually every time.

Background Processing (Pro)

The Pro background queue is designed for larger runs that should not depend on an open browser tab.

You can start a workflow, let the server process the job, and later review the result in History with summaries and downloadable logs.

Match Strategies (Pro)

When updating existing media, the plugin needs to identify the right attachment. Depending on your CSV and migration scenario, you can match by:

  • Attachment ID: most accurate when IDs are from the same site.
  • Source URL: useful when the original URL is available.
  • Filename: useful when IDs changed during a migration.

Use the most specific match strategy available to reduce accidental updates.

History & Automations (Pro)

Pro History gives you summaries, downloadable logs, restore-point information, conversion counts, rollback information, and export artifact re-downloads when available.

Optional automations are for repeatable scheduled workflows. Manual imports and exports can still be used normally without configuring automations.

Rollback & Restore Points (Pro)

When Pro runs supported real imports with an active license, it can create restore points before changes are applied.

Rollback actions are available from Pro History for supported changes such as new attachments, metadata updates, replace-file runs, and converted imports.

Image Conversion (Pro)

Pro can convert supported JPG/JPEG and PNG imports to WebP or AVIF when WordPress and the server image editor support the selected output format.

Safe fallback

If the server cannot write the selected format, unsupported files are skipped safely or imported normally depending on the workflow settings.

Troubleshooting

The process stopped halfway

In the free version, make sure the browser tab stays open and the computer does not go to sleep. For larger jobs, use Pro saved workflows and background processing.

My CSV is not being recognized

Check that the CSV has headers and at least one data row. Also confirm the separator and encoding, especially when exporting from spreadsheet apps.

I do not see rollback

Rollback appears only for supported Pro imports created with the version that stores restore points. It cannot retroactively restore old imports that were run before restore points existed.

Image conversion is unavailable

WebP and AVIF depend on WordPress and server image editor support. If the format is not supported by the hosting environment, the option may be disabled or skipped safely.