---
title: Installing the File Renaming on Upload Plugin
description: Install the Rename Media Files plugin to control how WordPress names your uploaded media, from the directory or by ZIP.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/file-renaming-installation/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Getting Started
tags:
  - File Renaming on Upload
---

# Installing the File Renaming on Upload Plugin

To install Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO, go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for File Renaming on Upload, find the plugin by WPFactory, and click Install Now, then Activate. You can also upload the ZIP with Upload Plugin. The settings then live at WPFactory > File Renaming.

![Installing the File Renaming on Upload plugin from the WordPress plugin directory](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-109-1024x440.png)

### Step-by-step installation

1. **Open the Plugins menu:** In your WordPress dashboard, go to **Plugins** in the left-hand menu.
2. **Click Add New:** Choose the **Add New** sub-menu to start installing a plugin.
3. **Search for the plugin:** In the search bar, type **File Renaming on Upload**.
4. **Identify the correct plugin:** Look for the plugin by WPFactory. This guide covers the free version, Rename Media Files.
5. **Install and activate:** Click **Install Now**, then click **Activate** to enable the plugin on your site.

### Alternative install (upload the ZIP)

1. **Download the plugin:** Get the free version from the [WordPress.org plugin directory](https://wordpress.org/plugins/file-renaming-on-upload/) and save the ZIP file to your computer.
2. **Go to Add New:** Back in your dashboard, open **Plugins > Add New**.
3. **Upload the ZIP:** Click **Upload Plugin**, choose the downloaded ZIP file, then click **Install Now**.
4. **Activate:** When the install finishes, click **Activate Plugin**.

### Where to go next

Go to **WPFactory > File Renaming** in your WordPress admin. The settings page is titled **File Renaming on Upload** and is split into tabs: General Settings, Rules, Advanced, and (in Pro) Compatibility and Background Process. From here you can set your filename structure and turn individual naming rules on or off.

### Prefer to watch?

This short video summarizes the installation in just a few minutes: [https://youtu.be/PUnloZCHXvo](https://youtu.be/PUnloZCHXvo).

### Get more control

The core renaming rules are free. [Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/) Pro adds manual filename and permalink editing, bulk renaming of existing media, automatic ALT text and titles, custom field, taxonomy and SKU rules, and more. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/).

Related articles

- [File Renaming on Upload Pro: Troubleshooting Tips](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-troubleshooting-tips/)
- [Monitoring Background Processes in File Renaming on Upload Plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/background-process-monitoring/)
- [Advanced Options in the File Renaming on Upload Plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/advanced-renaming-options/)
- [Configuring the File Renaming on Upload Plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/file-renaming-plugin/)
- [How to Restrict File Renaming by User Role or Post Type](https://wpfactory.com/docs/restrict-file-renaming-by-user-role-or-post-type/)

 

[![Rename Media Files on Upload for WordPress](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/File-Renaming-on-Upload.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/)