Title: Delete Unscaled Images Author: Eduard Doloc Published: November 1, 2022 Last modified: September 22, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/delete-unscaled-images/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=2809200) # Delete Unscaled Images By [Eduard Doloc](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rwky/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/delete-unscaled-images.2.0.1.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/) ## Description WordPress 5.3 added [“big image handling”](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2019/10/09/introducing-handling-of-big-images-in-wordpress-5-3/) that scales uploaded images to a maximum size of 2560 pixels for use on the website. WP adds “-scaled” to the full size image file name. The original, unscaled images are kept on the server. This can mean that many large images are stored on the server that aren’t ever actually going to be displayed on the website. In my case, users are uploading 15MB files from their cameras. After the scaled version and intermediate/thumbnail images are generated, the originals are no longer needed and just taking up storage space. _Delete Unscaled Images_ will remove those unneeded files. First, original images are deleted immediately after the resized versions are created for all new uploads. Second, there is a bulk deletion tool in the Media submenu to process existing images. ## Installation See the standard installation instructions at [WordPress.org](https://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins#Installing_Plugins). ## Reviews ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96660993ac012ddd55e2151996643c10f56864b64223b6568c6c9a617c132a78? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Simple, but good](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/simple-but-good-25/)󠁿 [weboersma](https://profiles.wordpress.org/weboersma/) January 3, 2025 Works fine.Tested it quite good: – big images are deleted- when media upload has an error then the big image is not deleted; that's good- smaller versions do still work (when image is very small showed on website) I am very satisfied. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/114570819832b68b1755d91bbb256c20ca7b4b44b3f8d2f6fc407ea6f9101c8a? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Barebones but it does the job](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/barebones-but-it-does-the-job/)󠁿 [Room 34 Creative Services, LLC](https://profiles.wordpress.org/room34/) November 11, 2024 I couldn't believe how hard it was for me to track down a tool that did what this plugin does: delete the oversized originals after WordPress creates the -scaled versions of uploaded images. Permanently deleting files is a risky task so I think it would be more reassuring to users of this plugin if it gave some details before they click the link to fire off the action, i.e. maybe a "dry run" that lists the files that would be deleted, without actually deleting them first. But if you know what you're doing, this is a great, easy-to-use tool for freeing up disk space — potentially a lot of disk space. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d933493a276151f3178e027322749b3bf046c95a262d829f60e628cf7e0bef63? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Exactly what I needed](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/exactly-what-i-needed-963/)󠁿 [coderguy](https://profiles.wordpress.org/coderguy/) June 22, 2024 Having local backups of all of my original source photos, and never planning to regenerate thumbnails on this particular WordPress site, I went ahead with the drastic action of deleting all the originals. This plugin was very easy to use. Just know ahead of time what you're getting into if you follow through with this action. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9a3bb43140600a91b2f329bef01e55944f7252369cfd7d97f4924d823909ec58? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Just what WordPress should have](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/just-what-wordpress-should-have/)󠁿 [solmediapl](https://profiles.wordpress.org/solmediapl/) January 10, 2024 A great plugin. It definitely deserves a try if you need a tool to delete unnecesseary big images. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/527e3b0e474972b74ceddfb6a3aa9e0cec5ee6a9a1903700f1c5f0e13dcf7c51? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Simple and Fast](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/simple-and-fast-109/)󠁿 [Robert Staddon](https://profiles.wordpress.org/robertstaddon/) May 24, 2023 This plugin is simple and fast and works brilliantly! It saves disk space usage by quickly and effectively removing all of the original, unscaled images that were over 2560px on the longest edge when uploaded. [ Read all 4 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/) ## Contributors & Developers “Delete Unscaled Images” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Eduard Doloc ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rwky/) * [ swinggraphics ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/swinggraphics/) “Delete Unscaled Images” has been translated into 1 locale. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/delete-unscaled-images/contributors) for their contributions. [Translate “Delete Unscaled Images” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/delete-unscaled-images) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/delete-unscaled-images/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/delete-unscaled-images/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/delete-unscaled-images/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/delete-unscaled-images/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 2.0 * Uses manage_options, so normal administrators can access it. * Processes attachments in batches of 100 via AJAX. * Handles 30k+ Media Libraries without loading everything into memory. * Adds a safe dry-run scan showing estimated savings. * Requires confirmation before deletion. * Validates that the active -scaled file exists. * Deletes only the original recorded in original_image. * Removes stale original_image metadata after deletion. * Continues deleting oversized originals automatically for future uploads. * Uses POST requests, nonces, capability checks and escaped output. #### 1.2 * Added bulk delete Media submenu page. #### 1.1 * Hooked into image upload to delete originals immediately. #### 1.0 * Crude bulk process as proof of concept. ## Meta * Version **2.0.1** * Last updated **1 month ago** * Active installations **900+** * WordPress version ** 6.5 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1.3** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Languages * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/) and [French (France)](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/). * [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/delete-unscaled-images) * Tags * [images](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/images/)[media uploader](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/media-uploader/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/delete-unscaled-images/advanced/) ## Ratings 5 out of 5 stars. * [ 5 5-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/?filter=5) * [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/?filter=4) * [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/?filter=3) * [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/?filter=2) * [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/?filter=1) [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Eduard Doloc ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/rwky/) * [ swinggraphics ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/swinggraphics/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/delete-unscaled-images/)