📁 PixelVault is the free way to organize your WordPress media library with unlimited, drag-and-drop media folders , and now to present those folders as a downloadable Document Library on the front end. Sort images, videos, PDFs, audio, and documents into nested, colour-coded folders right inside th
PricingFree downloadThe WordPress.org download is free. Pro versions, add-ons or external services may cost extra.
CompatibilityRequires WordPress 6.5 and PHP 7.4.
SourceWordPress plugins · Nov 7, 2026
01 / Source details
Aboutthistool.
📁 PixelVault is the free way to organize your WordPress media library with unlimited, drag-and-drop media folders , and now to present those folders as a downloadable Document Library on the front end. Sort images, videos, PDFs, audio, and documents into nested, colour-coded folders right inside the Media Library, then publish any folder as a browsable asset manager for your visitors.
Stop scrolling through hundreds of unsorted attachments. PixelVault lets you categorize media into folders and subfolders , filter instantly, and find any file in seconds — a proper file manager for your WordPress media.
Folders are virtual — physical files never move, no URLs change, nothing breaks, and standard WordPress export/import keeps working without any special steps.
🆕 Document Library block (new in 1.2.0)
Turn any media folder into a browsable, downloadable document library on the front end, no page builder required. The PixelVault Document Library Gutenberg block renders a folder as an accessible file browser with a sidebar folder tree, breadcrumb navigation, in-library search, pagination, and per-file downloads.
🗂️ Folder tree and breadcrumb : visitors browse nested folders without page reloads
🔍 Search and pagination : find files fast inside large folders
⬇️ Per-file download plus Download-all ZIP : grab one file or the whole folder in a click
🎨 Three design presets (Cards, Compact, Minimal), with an accent colour and a framed option
♿ Accessibility-first : full keyboard navigation (WAI-ARIA tree pattern), screen-reader friendly
📱 Fully responsive : grid and list layouts adapt to mobile
🧩 Block or shortcode : insert it with the block, or use [pixelvault_document_library] in the Classic Editor, page builders, widgets, and theme templates
Perfect for knowledge bases, press kits, resource centres, download portals, and product documentation.
🗂️ Content Folders for Posts & Pages (new in 1.3.0)
Folders aren’t just for media any more. Enable Content Folders and the same folder tree appears on your Posts and Pages list screens, so you can organise content the way you organise files — without touching public categories or tags.
📂 Nested folders on the Posts and Pages screens — a sidebar with create, rename, delete, and unlimited subfolders
🖱️ Drag-and-drop filing — drag selected rows onto a folder, or use “Add to folder”
⚡ Instant folder filtering — click a folder to filter the list, no page reload
🧩 One shared tree — a “Client campaign” folder can hold both its images and its landing pages
🔒 Private and admin-only — folders never appear on the front end and never affect your categories, tags, URLs, or SEO
Content Folders keep your editorial workflow tidy — group drafts, campaigns, seasonal pages, or client work — separately from the public taxonomy your visitors see.
✨ Core Features
📂 Unlimited nested folders and subfolders — no depth limit, no folder count limit
🔗 Assign files to multiple folders — one file can appear in as many folders as you like
🖱️ Drag-and-drop sidebar — reorder folders, move files, and create subfolders by dragging
⚡ Auto-assign uploads — new files go straight into whichever folder is selected
🔍 Search and sort — find folders instantly; sort manually, by name, or by file count
⌨️ Keyboard shortcut — press “n” to create a new folder
🖲️ Right-click context menu — Rename, Delete, Lock, Create subfolders, Copy gallery shortcode, Import ZIP to folder, Download all files
🌐 RTL language support — full right-to-left layout
🛠️ Organisation and Productivity Tools
📦 ZIP File Import Right-click any folder and choose “Import ZIP to folder”. Upload a .zip archive and PixelVault extracts and assigns every image, video, audio file, and PDF directly into that folder.
🗺️ Media Usage Map Right-click any image and choose “Where is this used?” to see every post, page, or custom post type that references the file — useful before replacing or deleting files.
⬇️ Bulk Download as ZIP Right-click any folder to download all its files as a ZIP archive.
🔒 Folder Locking Lock any folder to prevent accidental renaming, deletion, moving, or file reassignment. Locked folders display a padlock badge.
📊 Storage Analytics Full storage overview with total size, average file size, file-type breakdown chart, top-10 largest files, and per-folder size distribution. Available under Settings → Analytics and as a WordPress Dashboard widget.
✏️ Bulk Alt Text Editor Batch-edit alt text on all images that are missing it — useful for accessibility and image SEO. Edit multiple files at once without opening each one individually.
🔄 Media Replace Swap any file in place, keeping the same URL and attachment ID. All existing references on posts and pages continue to work automatically.
🎯 Smart Filters Dynamic built-in views that update automatically: Missing Alt Text, Unused Files, Recent Uploads, and Large Files.
🗂️ Auto-Categorise Existing Media Bulk-organise your existing media library in one click via the import icon at the bottom of the folder panel. Choose a rule:
📅 By Year — creates a folder per year (e.g. 2023 , 2024 ).
🗓️ By Month — creates a folder per month (e.g. January 2024 , February 2024 ).
🏷️ By File Type — creates Images , Videos , Audio , PDFs , Documents , and Spreadsheets folders.
Choose Unassigned only to leave already-organised files untouched, or All files to reassign everything. PixelVault previews the result before making any changes.
🚚 Import from Other Plugins One-click migration from FileBird, Real Media Library, WP Media Folder, Enhanced Media Library, HappyFiles, and Wicked Folders. Folder hierarchy and all file assignments are copied automatically. Go to Settings → Tools → Import from Another Plugin . The original plugin’s data is never modified.
💾 Export and Import Back up your entire folder structure as a JSON file and restore it on any WordPress site — no SQL required.
🔐 Role Permissions Granular folder access per WordPress user role: control who can create, edit, and delete folders independently.
🧩 Gutenberg, Elementor, and Divi
📚 PixelVault Document Library block — publish a folder as an accessible, downloadable file library with a folder tree, search, pagination, and Download-all ZIP
🖼️ PixelVault Gallery block — insert a folder’s contents as a responsive gallery with lightbox directly in the block editor
📝 [pixelvault_gallery] shortcode — classic editor, widgets, and theme template support
🎛️ Elementor — folder panel works inside the Elementor media modal
🏗️ Divi — folder panel works in the Divi backend builder and the Divi Front End Builder
🌍 Universal compatibility — PixelVault hooks into WordPress’s native media modal, so it works with any theme or page builder
🏛️ Architecture: Virtual Taxonomy
PixelVault stores folder assignments in WordPress’s native taxonomy tables ( wp_term_relationships ). Physical files stay exactly where they are. Deleting a folder never deletes files.
Because folders use WordPress’s own taxonomy tables, they stay fast as your library grows. In our testing with 10,000 media files, browsing folders and filtering the grid answered in a few milliseconds, and the folder sidebar’s counts computed in well under a quarter of a second.
👩💻 For Developers
Full REST API and documented action/filter hooks.
🔌 REST API — Full CRUD at /wp-json/rayetun-medianest/v1/folders . Authenticate with X-WP-Nonce .
JavaScript hooks (via @wordpress/hooks ) let you add items to the folder/image context menus and the bulk-action bar.
A full list of PHP and JavaScript hooks with examples ships in HOOKS.md inside the plugin.
Credits
PixelVault bundles the following open-source library:
enshrined/svg-sanitize by Daryll Doyle — sanitizes SVG uploads to remove scripts and other unsafe content. Licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later.
See it in action
Screenshots & previews.
Dashboard of PixelVault — All features at a glance.Folder sidebar in the WordPress Media Library — unlimited nested folders with colour coding.Right-click context menu — rename, delete, lock, download ZIP, import ZIP, and more.Storage Analytics — per-folder breakdown, file-type chart, and top-10 largest files.Import from another plugin — one-click migration from FileBird, Real Media Library, WP Media Folder, and Enhanced Media Library.Media Usage Map — see every post and page that references a file.Bulk Alt Text Editor — batch-edit missing alt text across your entire library.Import Existing Media — auto-organize your existing media into folders by a chosen rule (By Year, By Month, By File Type)Media Replace — Swap any media file in-place, keeping the same URL and post ID.Folder Permissions — Control which roles can perform folder actions. Administrators always have full access.PixelVault Document Library block on the front end: folder tree, breadcrumb, search, and downloadable file tiles.Document Library design presets: Cards View layouts.Document Library design presets: Minimal List View layouts.Document Library block settings in the editor: pick a folder, preset, columns, and accent colour.
02 / Source details
Gettingstarted.
01Upload the plugin folder to /wp-content/plugins/ .
02Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress.
03Go to Media → Library — the folder panel appears on the left.
No configuration is required to get started.
03 / Source details
Frequently asked questions.
❓ Will this break my media URLs or move my files?
No. PixelVault uses virtual folders — it only stores a taxonomy relationship between your attachment and a folder label. Physical files are never moved. No URLs change.
🔗 Can one file appear in multiple folders?
Yes. PixelVault supports many-to-many assignment — the same file can appear in as many folders as you like.
🗑️ What happens to my files if I delete a folder?
Your files are completely unaffected. They remain in the media library; only the folder assignment is removed. Child folders are automatically moved up to the deleted folder’s parent.
♻️ What happens if I uninstall PixelVault?
All folder data is removed cleanly on uninstall: taxonomy terms, term relationships, and the plugin’s custom table are deleted. Your media files are never touched.
🔌 Is there a REST API?
Yes. Full CRUD is available at /wp-json/rayetun-medianest/v1/folders . Authenticate with a standard X-WP-Nonce header.
🚚 Can I import my folders from FileBird, Real Media Library, WP Media Folder, or Enhanced Media Library?
Yes — all four are supported. Go to Settings → Tools → Import from Another Plugin , scan for importable plugins, and click Import. The original plugin’s data is never modified or deleted.
🧩 Does it work with Elementor, Divi, and Gutenberg?
Yes. The folder panel works inside Elementor’s media modal, in both the Divi back-end and front-end builders, and the Gutenberg media uploader. There are also two dedicated Gutenberg blocks: the PixelVault Gallery block and the new PixelVault Document Library block.
📚 What is the Document Library block and where does it work?
The Document Library block turns any folder into a front-end file browser your visitors can search, navigate, and download from (including a Download-all ZIP). It is a Gutenberg block, so add it on any post or page from the block inserter, pick a folder, and choose a design preset. It is keyboard-accessible and fully responsive, and it respects your folder visibility rules, so restricted folders stay hidden from guests. Requires WordPress 6.5 or newer.
🧩 Is there a shortcode for the Document Library (search and folder browsing)?
Yes. Use [pixelvault_document_library] on any page or post, including in the Classic Editor, page builders, widgets, and theme templates. It renders the same searchable file browser with the folder tree and downloads as the block. To start inside a specific folder, pass its ID: [pixelvault_document_library root="12"] . You can also set options, for example columns="4" , layout="list" , show_search="false" , or per_page="30" .
💬 Get Support
Post in the WordPress.org support forum . We aim to respond within 24 hours on business days.
FinderPress Media Auditor helps site administrators scan for broken images, missing Media Library files, unreachable media URLs, and other media issues across WordPress content. Use it to audit images, video, audio, PDFs, featured images, and attachment files without sending scan data to an external
The Accepted Payment Methods plugin is a straightforward, lightweight solution that enhances your website by displaying visually appealing icons of the payment methods you accept. This plugin is ideal for a variety of websites, including e-commerce platforms, service-oriented websites, and informati