WP Plugin Media File Renamer
Review

Media File Renamer: Rename for better SEO (AI-Powered)

Media File Renamer, developed by Jordy Meow, was released on 2011-01-27 and has since established itself as a useful tool for optimizing the media library in WordPress. With over 40,000+ active installations the plugin is aimed at users who want to effectively organize their media files and optimize them for SEO purposes. What sets it apart is the ability to automatically rename file and metadata like titles, ALT text, and descriptions, even offering AI-powered suggestions. This automation saves time and ensures organized media libraries, and is especially attractive to WordPress users who value efficient management of their media files. It has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars 428 reviews in the official WordPress Plugin Directory. The following paragraphs detail the full functionalities the plugin offers.

"This plugin saves a lot of time and is perfect for SEO."

Features - Comprehensive tools for file management

The plugin offers a wide range of features beyond simple file renaming. In addition to automatic renaming including titles, ALT texts and descriptions, Media File Renamer offers broad compatibility with other WordPress features and plugins. This compatibility also extends to Retina and WebP images as well as PDF thumbnails. Another notable feature is support for metadata synchronization, which allows ALT texts and titles to remain consistent.

"I use Media File Renamer Pro for every SEO project! Surprisingly, it also helps redirect old image URLs to the new ones it created."

Free-Features - Basic functions of the free version

• Automatic renaming of media files - Assigns new, better names for SEO and organization.
• Manual edits possible - Users can adjust media file names themselves.
• Support for various image formats - Compatible with Retina, WebP and PDF thumbnails.

Pro-Features - Advanced features for professionals

• AI Vision and suggestions for intelligent renaming - Uses AI to make better name suggestions.
• Anonymization of files - Provides additional privacy.
• Bulk moving of files - Allows moving multiple files between directories at once.
• Metadata synchronization - ALT texts and titles can be synchronized.
• Numbering of files - Better organization by numbering files.

"The Pro version has everything needed to get things done right."

License & value for money - Free use with optional add-ons

Media File Renamer offers a free version that covers basic functions. For users who need advanced features like AI-powered naming or file anonymization, there is a Pro version. It is appreciated for its good value for money, as the additional time savings justify the cost. Some users, however, state that the free version is limited in certain features, which can be a challenge for those who do not want to use the Pro version.

"The value for money is described as good because the time savings justify the cost."

Technical details - Insights into functionality and architecture

The Media File Renamer plugin works with a mix of database-driven operations and direct file system manipulations. A core feature is the ability to efficiently update database entries regarding media files and their metadata such as titles, ALT text and descriptions. This ensures that references in the WordPress system remain consistent even after filenames have been changed. The plugin's architecture allows large amounts of files to be moved across different directories, with a focus on the integrity of database entries. In addition, the plugin is designed to handle various encoding types, making it robust against international characters and special characters. Developers appreciate the detailed processing of filenames performed with AI support, where intelligent suggestions are given based on metadata.

System requirements - Compatibility and requirements at a glance

The plugin requires at least PHP version 7.4 or higher to ensure stable and secure operation. The minimum requirement for WordPress is version 6.0, while it has been tested and is compatible up to WordPress version 6.9. The current plugin version number is 6.1.6, with the last update in 2025-12. These requirements ensure that the plugin remains compatible with both older and the latest technological standards of WordPress.

"The plugin provides full support for the latest WordPress versions and ensures smooth operation with current web standards."

Quality - Reliability and challenges in focus

The quality of the Media File Renamer plugin is evident in its ability to promote order and efficiency within the WordPress media library. Users report that the plugin significantly improves the organization of the file structure by intelligently updating filenames and synchronizing with alt text and title information. The incorporation of AI technology also represents an innovative facet, as it helps users get relevant and SEO-optimized suggestions for filenames. However, avoiding potential technical issues like broken image links upon uninstallation requires precautions, which is why an individual backup is always recommended. Performance with very large amounts of data is considered by some users to be in need of improvement, which could be relevant for large database systems for WordPress applications.

"[...] This plugin was extremely helpful and saved me a lot of time [...]."

Support - User experiences and availability

Support for the Media File Renamer plugin is rated differently by users. Many praise the fast response time as well as the friendliness and helpfulness of developer Jordy Meow. Support experiences range from prompt and successful problem resolution to cases where inquiries were not answered at all or only inadequately. Two main channels are available for support: the official support forum on WordPress and the developer's direct support page.

"I had some issues and wrote an unfriendly support ticket. To his credit, Jordy replied very kindly. He addressed my problem and also responded to my side concerns."

Rating - A collection of opinions and experiences

The WordPress plugin Media File Renamer has an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 428 reviews. This high rating reflects overall user satisfaction. The majority of users highlight how the plugin helps organize media files efficiently and thus facilitates SEO tasks.

One positive aspect often mentioned is the time savings the plugin provides. One user points out:

"An essential plugin for SEO optimizations that saves a lot of my time."

At the same time there are negative feedbacks that should not be ignored. Critics occasionally complain that the plugin does not always work as expected and in some cases the renaming processes can fail:

"Unfortunately some functions do not always work reliably."

Another piece of positive feedback again highlights the strengths, especially how the AI-powered suggestions make the workflow easier:

"It offers intelligent suggestions that have significantly simplified my work."

Overall, the majority of users appear satisfied with the plugin, with the positive aspects outweighing the negatives. However, challenges remain and should be considered when making decisions.

Criticism - Problems and improvement suggestions in detail

Media File Renamer is criticized, especially regarding reliability and functionality. A common complaint concerns reports of malfunctioning features that can cause significant problems for some users. For example, there are reports that the plugin messed up the website, and certain features are only partially available without the Pro version. Another concern raised by users is the complicated user interface, which can make accessing important settings difficult.

Another serious issue mentioned is the system's dependency on the continuous installation of the plugin. Once it is uninstalled, extensive problems with image links can occur, which could endanger the database and the website. One piece of feedback complained that upon an uninstallation 900 image links no longer worked, which affected the integrity of the website and required extensive rework.

Although security vulnerabilities were not directly identified based on the available information, the recommendation to take precautions such as creating backups before use indicates that caution may be warranted when dealing with the plugin, especially in combination with other plugins that might interfere with the renaming process. Improvement suggestions include a more user-friendly interface and reliable support for issues.

"I have more than 10 years of experience with WordPress and never expected a plugin to mess up my website like this."

Conclusion - Overview of strengths and weaknesses

The Media File Renamer plugin, developed by Jordy Meow, offers a solid solution for optimizing media files in WordPress, especially for SEO purposes. Its range of features, from simple renaming to AI-powered suggestions and metadata synchronization, provides a valuable resource for users seeking order and efficiency in their media library. The positive reviews underscore the general usefulness and time savings the plugin offers.

Nevertheless, there are also challenges, particularly regarding potential complications during uninstallation and the sometimes inconsistent functionality. A Pro version is available for more demanding users, offering extended features and better control. However, the choice of plugin should be made carefully, especially when specific requirements or large amounts of data need to be considered. Despite some criticisms, Media File Renamer remains a valuable addition to many users' WordPress toolbox.