If rename settings revert after you save in Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO, another plugin or the theme is usually interfering, or a PHP error occurs during the save. Switch to a default theme, deactivate other plugins, and save again. If the problem persists, check debug.log and your server error logs for PHP errors.
Symptom #
- After pressing Save changes, the rename options look saved, but revisiting the settings page shows them unchecked.
- New uploads use their original filenames instead of the sanitized ones, as if renaming were disabled.
Cause #
This is usually caused by another plugin or the active theme interfering with how the settings are stored, or by a PHP error during the save on a specific server environment.
Fix steps #
- Change the settings, save, then refresh the page and confirm the options remain checked.
- If they revert, switch temporarily to a default WordPress theme (for example, Twenty Twenty-One) and deactivate your other plugins to rule out a conflict. Re-test the save.
- If the problem persists, enable WordPress debugging and check the
debug.logand your server error logs for PHP errors logged at the moment of saving. Share those logs with support if needed. - As a code workaround, you can enforce your rules through the
frou_sanitize_file_namefilter so renaming is always applied regardless of the stored options. See the developer documentation for hook usage.
Keep a record of your working configuration so it is easy to restore, and confirm the settings hold before running any bulk uploads.
Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the Rename Media Files support forum.
