One more question: Can I create an scheduled task to keep the Media Library and Server folder clean.
If not possible with the free version, can I do it with the premium version?
Thanks
1) The “pro” version has option (filesystem scan) to delete unused images that don’t exist in Media Library. The question is if it will be able to delete the physical file, as you already wrote that it fails when you delete an image from Media Library. Looks like something is broken in your installation.
2) Jordy does a great work with this plugin, but sometimes it may show as unused an image that is used. So I don’t think it’s good idea to automate this. When you delete the unused images then the images files are moved in wpmc-trash and you can visit your website using a private tab (or make sure you clear browser cache). This way you can find easily for false positives and restore them.
1) The “pro” version has option (filesystem scan) to delete unused images that don’t exist in Media Library. The question is if it will be able to delete the physical file, as you already wrote that it fails when you delete an image from Media Library. Looks like something is broken in your installation.
I think it will work fine as the deletion with the Filesystem Scan works with the physical files directly. In the case of @chefnelone, he seems to delete a media entry and there are leftovers; those leftovers are probably “old” thumbnails which are not part of the metadata anymore, which is why WordPress doesn’t (know how to) remove them.
So I don’t think it’s good idea to automate this.
Exactly. Removing files is way too dangerous to automate it. It can be done with WP-CLI, once everything is settled, the WordPress install is not changing much, and we made sure Media Cleaner works perfectly in that set up, why not. Some people do it. But I wouldn’t 🙂