runthings.dev

<p>When you upload media to WordPress, the title field is automatically set to a slugified version of the filename. This often results in messy, unoptimized titles like “IMG-20240115-photo-final-v2” appearing in gallery captions, alt tags, or title attributes.</p>
<p>This plugin clears the title field for newly uploaded media, ensuring that if a title is displayed anywhere, it’s one you’ve intentionally set yourself.</p>
<h4>Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Automatically clears the title field for new media uploads</li>
<li>Bulk action to clear titles on existing media library items</li>
<li>Lightweight with no settings page required</li>
<li>Developer-friendly with filters</li>
</ul>
<h4>How It Works</h4>
<p>The plugin hooks into WordPress’s <code>wp_insert_attachment_data</code> filter and clears the <code>post_title</code> field for new uploads before they are saved to the database.</p>
<h3>Filters</h3>
<h4>runthings_emt_skip</h4>
<p>Skip clearing the title for specific attachments.</p>
<p><strong>Parameters:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><code>$skip</code> (bool) – Whether to skip clearing the title. Default false.</li>
<li><code>$data</code> (array) – Attachment post data (slashed, sanitized, processed).</li>
<li><code>$postarr</code> (array) – Sanitized post data (not processed).</li>
<li><code>$unsanitized_postarr</code> (array) – Unsanitized post data.</li>
<li><code>$update</code> (bool) – Whether this is an update (always false for new uploads).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Example:</strong></p>
<pre><code>// Skip clearing title for uploads by specific user
add_filter('runthings_emt_skip', function($skip, $data, $postarr) {
    if (get_current_user_id() === 1) {
        return true; // Admin keeps auto-generated titles
    }
    return $skip;
}, 10, 3);



// Skip clearing title if filename contains "keep-title"
add_filter('runthings_emt_skip', function($skip, $data, $postarr) {
    $filename = $postarr['post_title'] ?? '';
    if (strpos($filename, 'keep-title') !== false) {
        return true;
    }
    return $skip;
}, 10, 3);
</code></pre>
<h4>runthings_emt_mime_types</h4>
<p>Filter which MIME types should have their title cleared. By default, all media types are affected.</p>
<p><strong>Parameters:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><code>$allowed_mime_types</code> (array) – Array of MIME type patterns. Default <code>[]</code> (all types).</li>
<li><code>$attachment_mime_type</code> (string) – The attachment’s MIME type.</li>
<li><code>$postarr</code> (array) – Sanitized post data.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Example:</strong></p>
<pre><code>// Restrict to images only
add_filter('runthings_emt_mime_types', function($allowed_mime_types) {
    return ['image'];
});



// Restrict to images and PDFs only
add_filter('runthings_emt_mime_types', function($allowed_mime_types) {
    return ['image', 'application/pdf'];
});
</code></pre>
<h3>Additional Notes</h3>
<p>Built by Matthew Harris of runthings.dev, copyright 2022-2026.</p>
<p>Visit <a href="https://runthings.dev/" rel="nofollow ugc">runthings.dev</a> for more WordPress plugins and resources.</p>
<p>Contribute or report issues at the <a href="https://github.com/runthings-dev/runthings-empty-media-title" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub repository</a>.</p>
<p>Insert space by Xinh Studio from Noun Project, https://thenounproject.com/browse/icons/term/insert-space/ (CC BY 3.0) – https://thenounproject.com/icon/insert-space-239543/</p>
<p>Image by David Khai from Noun Project, https://thenounproject.com/browse/icons/term/image/ (CC BY 3.0) – https://thenounproject.com/icon/image-661355/</p>


Clear Media Title On Upload

Clears the media title field on upload, instead of setting it to the slugified filename.

Jon Christopher

<p><strong>Extensive</strong> usage instructions are <a href="https://github.com/jchristopher/attachments/#attachments" rel="nofollow ugc">available on GitHub</a></p>
<p>Attachments allows you to simply append any number of items from your WordPress Media Library to Posts, Pages, and Custom Post Types.</p>
<h4>Associate Media items with posts</h4>
<p>The idea behind Attachments is to give developers the ability to directly associate Media items with any post. This is accomplished by adding a meta box to post edit screens as determined by the developer. Once Media items have been associated with a post, you’re able to retrieve those Attachments and include them directly within your template files using any specific markup you wish.</p>
<h4>Integrate Attachments within your theme with fine grained control</h4>
<p><strong>Attachments does not automatically integrate itself with your theme.</strong> Since the idea behind Attachments is to allow integration of Media within posts using developer-crafted, unique markup, <em>it’s up to you to integrate with your theme</em>. The most basic integration includes editing the <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Hierarchy" rel="nofollow ugc">appropriate template file</a> and adding your call(s) to Attachments. For example, if you have set up Attachments to be used with your Posts entries, edit <code>single.php</code> to include the following within The Loop:</p>
<pre><code><?php $attachments = new Attachments( 'attachments' ); /* pass the instance name */ ?>
<?php if( $attachments->exist() ) : ?>
  <h3>Attachments</h3>
  <p>Total Attachments: <?php echo $attachments->total(); ?></p>
  <ul>
    <?php while( $attachments->get() ) : ?>
      <li>
        ID: <?php echo $attachments->id(); ?><br />
        Type: <?php echo $attachments->type(); ?><br />
        Subtype: <?php echo $attachments->subtype(); ?><br />
        URL: <?php echo $attachments->url(); ?><br />
        Image: <?php echo $attachments->image( 'thumbnail' ); ?><br />
        Source: <?php echo $attachments->src( 'full' ); ?><br />
        Size: <?php echo $attachments->filesize(); ?><br />
        Title Field: <?php echo $attachments->field( 'title' ); ?><br />
        Caption Field: <?php echo $attachments->field( 'caption' ); ?>
      </li>
    <?php endwhile; ?>
  </ul>
<?php endif; ?>
</code></pre>
<p>That snippet will request all of the existing Attachments defined for the current Post within The Loop, and retrieve each itemized property for that Attachment. Using the provided details you’re able to integrate the attached Media items in any way you please.</p>
<p>There is a lot more information on <a href="https://github.com/jchristopher/attachments" rel="nofollow ugc">Attachments’ GitHub page</a>. Please contribute!</p>
<h3>Roadmap</h3>
<p>Please see <a href="https://github.com/jchristopher/attachments/blob/master/docs/roadmap.md" rel="nofollow ugc">Attachments on GitHub</a></p>
<h3>Usage</h3>
<p><strong>Extensive</strong> usage instructions are <a href="https://github.com/jchristopher/attachments/blob/master/docs/usage.md" rel="nofollow ugc">available on GitHub</a></p>


Attachments

This plugin provides functionality that should come with WP core.



The missing plugin

Great plugin

Excellent Plugin

Attachments allows you to simply append any number of items from your WordPress Media Library to Posts, Pages, and Custom Post Types

Clear Media Title On Upload vs Attachments