Title: MediaSleuth
Author: Smit Dudhat
Published: <strong>August 4, 2026</strong>
Last modified: August 4, 2026

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# MediaSleuth

 By [Smit Dudhat](https://profiles.wordpress.org/smitdudhat/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/mediasleuth.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediasleuth/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediasleuth/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediasleuth/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediasleuth/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/mediasleuth/)

## Description

MediaSleuth helps administrators identify media files that are not being used anywhere
on the website. It works with any installed plugin by scanning all posts, custom
post types, post meta, term meta, user meta, comments, widgets, theme options, wp_options,
menus, and serialized/JSON data from page builders and third-party plugins.

**Key Features:**

 * Comprehensive media usage detection
 * Safe delete with 30-day trash retention
 * Batch processing for large sites (10,000+ media files)
 * Real-time scan progress
 * Storage analytics
 * CSV export
 * Scheduled scans with email reports
 * Bulk actions (delete, restore, rescan)

**Safety First:**

Files are never permanently deleted immediately. When deleted, files are moved to
a plugin trash folder and can be restored within the retention period. Files that
cannot be confirmed as unused are marked as “Possibly Used” instead of “Unused”.

## Installation

 1. Upload the `mediasleuth` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`
 2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
 3. Go to Media Scanner in the admin menu
 4. Click “Start New Scan” to analyze your media library

## FAQ

### Will this delete my files permanently?

No. Deleted files are moved to a plugin trash folder and kept for the configured
retention period (default 30 days) before permanent deletion. You can restore files
at any time during this period.

### What does “Possibly Used” mean?

When the scanner cannot guarantee a file is unused (e.g., complex serialized data
or third-party plugin references), it marks the file as “Possibly Used” rather than“
Unused” to prevent accidental deletion.

### Does it work with all plugins?

Yes. The scanner uses universal detection across post meta, options, JSON, and serialized
data. It automatically recognizes data from Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, WPBakery,
Bricks, ACF, WooCommerce, and many other plugins. Developers can extend detection
using WordPress filters: media_sleuth_infer_plugin_label, media_sleuth_is_excluded_option,
and media_sleuth_rescan_detectors.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“MediaSleuth” is open source software. The following people have contributed to 
this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ Smit Dudhat ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/smitdudhat/)

[Translate “MediaSleuth” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/mediasleuth)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/mediasleuth/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/mediasleuth/), or subscribe
to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/mediasleuth/) by
[RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/mediasleuth/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0

 * Initial release

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **6 hours ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.0.2**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 * Tags
 * [cleanup](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/cleanup/)[media](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/media/)
   [scanner](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/scanner/)[storage](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/storage/)
   [unused files](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/unused-files/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/mediasleuth/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/mediasleuth/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/mediasleuth/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Smit Dudhat ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/smitdudhat/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/mediasleuth/)