---
title: Configuring Filename Structure on Upload Plugin
description: "Define a custom WordPress filename structure for uploads so every file gets a clear, search-friendly name."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/filename-structure-configuration/"
updated: "2026-09-25"
category: How to
tags:
  - File Renaming on Upload
---

# Configuring Filename Structure on Upload Plugin

## Configuring the filename structure

[Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO](https://wpfactory.com/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/) lets you define a custom filename structure so every uploaded file gets a clear, descriptive, search-friendly name. This guide covers the three Filename structure settings on the General Settings tab and how they work together.

![Filename structure settings for the Rename Media Files plugin](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-111-1024x448.png)

### Where the settings live

Go to **WPFactory > File Renaming** in your WordPress admin. The settings page is titled **File Renaming on Upload** and is split into tabs. The filename structure settings are on the **General Settings** tab.

### The three filename structure settings

Rename Media Files builds each new filename from a pattern you define in the **Filename structure** field. Two supporting fields control the separator character and the maximum length.

| Setting | Option ID | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Filename structure | `filename_structure` | `{siteurl}{posttitle}{filename}` | Free |
| Character(s) used to separate rules | `filename_structure_chars_between` | `-` | Free |
| Max length | `filename_structure_max_length` | `200` | Free |

### Filename structure

The `filename_structure` field holds the pattern used to build every new filename. You compose it from tokens wrapped in curly braces. The default is `{siteurl}{posttitle}{filename}`, which produces a name made of your site URL, the parent post title, and the original filename.

Common tokens include `{filename}` (the original uploaded filename), `{siteurl}` (your site URL), and `{posttitle}` (the title of the post the file is attached to). Each token has to be enabled on the **Rules** tab before it takes effect in the structure. For the full list of available tokens, see the placeholders reference.

### Character(s) used to separate rules

The `filename_structure_chars_between` field sets the character placed between the parts of the filename. The default is a hyphen (`-`). You can change it to an underscore or any other separator you prefer.

### Max length

The `filename_structure_max_length` field caps the number of characters in the generated filename, preventing excessively long names. The default is `200`.

### 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

- [Configuring the File Renaming on Upload Plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/file-renaming-plugin/)
- [Filename Structure Placeholders Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/filename-structure-placeholders-reference/)
- [How to Rename Media Files on Upload in WordPress](https://wpfactory.com/docs/intro-how-to-use-rename-media-files-on-upload-plugin/)
- [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/)

 

[![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/)