Description
Add one or more files with their URLs under Media > “Add new media file”. You can use this way added external files in all places where the media library is used.
Embed your files from Google Drive, YouTube, Vimeo, FTP, local paths or many other possible sources. Use them in your preferred editor such as Block Editor, Elementor, Divi, Classic Editor, WpBakery and many more.
Use an external data source for product images in your WooCommerce-based store.
Mass-Import
You can import complete directories from any of the supported TCP protocols. Just enter the directory as path to import and the plugin will import any supported files from it.
TCP Protocols
You can use the following TCP-protocols to import external files in your media library:
http://https://ftp://ftps://sftp://ssh://file://
Some of them require credentials, for http(s) it is optional.
Checks
The plugin checks for you automatically on a regular basis whether the external hosted files you have embedded are still available.
Repository and documentation
You find some documentations here.
The development repository is on GitHub.
Screenshots
Field to add external files in Media > Add New Media File. 
Dialog to add URLs of external files.
Installation
- Upload “external-files-in-media-library” to the “/wp-content/plugins/” directory.
- Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” menu in WordPress.
FAQ
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Can I prevent other WordPress-users from adding external files?
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Yes, you can select under Settings > “External files in Media Library” which roles gets the ability to add external URLs as files.
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Can I also embed password-protected external files?
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Yes, but these files are integrated locally and not from the external URL so that your visitors can access them without any problems.
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Can I embed files from FTP?
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Yes, see our documentation.
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Can I import complete directories?
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Yes, you can. Just enter the directory to import.
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Can I import from my local server?
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Yes, you can. Simply enter the absolute path with file-protocol, e.g.:
file:///var/www/path/to/file.png– see also our documentation. -
Can I import external product images for WooCommerce?
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Yes, simply enable the setting under Settings > “External files in Media Library” > WooCommerce. Add your external URLs
for images in the CSV you want to import as it is already possible with WooCommerce. They will be handled as
external files by this plugin. This also allows you to use all protocols supported by the plugin for importing these files. -
Is there a WP CLI command?
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Yes, there are many options on WP CLI, see our documentation.
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Google tells me that the app is not verified when I connect Google Drive – why?
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According to Google guidelines, an app that is used to connect to the Google Drive API is only checked and confirmed once it has 100 active users. As long as less than 100 active users use this function via this plugin, you will always see this message. You can confirm it via “unsecure” and still complete the connection of your Google Drive with your WordPress website.
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“External files in Media Library” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
“External files in Media Library” has been translated into 4 locales. Thank you to the translators for their contributions.
Translate “External files in Media Library” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
3.1.0
- Added support for image meta-data (like caption) for external hosted images
- Added more hooks
- Added Third Party support for Block Editor and Elementor
- Added link to support forum on our plugin in plugin list
- Added link to support forum in add URLs dialog
- Optimized the settings objects for future independence from this plugin
- Usage of external embedded YouTube URLs in Block Editor is now possible
- Choose your YouTube videos from local media library in Elementors Video widget
- Remove some unused codes
- Fixed refreshing of permalinks (which as been run on every request until now)
- Fixed potential error on WP CLI function to add Google Drive connection
- Fixed missing support for plugin PreventDirectAccess
- Fixed some typos