---
title: "Rename Media Files on Upload: Specific Issues"
description: WordPress file renaming not working, wrong permalink updates, or broken media references? Fixes by symptom.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/specific-issues-rename/"
updated: "2026-09-26"
category: Troubleshooting
tags:
  - File Renaming on Upload
---

# Rename Media Files on Upload: Specific Issues

## Specific issues

If new uploads keep their original filenames in Rename Media Files: Improve Your WordPress SEO, confirm Enable plugin is on in the General Settings tab at WPFactory > File Renaming, check that filename_structure contains an active token enabled on the Rules tab, and make sure the Advanced tab ignore lists do not exclude the file.

### File renaming not working

**Symptom:** new uploads keep their original filenames instead of following your rules.

**Cause:** the plugin is disabled, the filename structure is empty or invalid, or the file is being skipped by an exclusion rule.

**Fix steps:**

1. Confirm **Enable plugin** (`enable_plugin`) is on under **WPFactory > File Renaming** on the General Settings tab.
2. Check that your `filename_structure` field contains at least one active token, and that those tokens are enabled on the Rules tab.
3. On the Advanced tab, make sure the file's extension or filename is not being excluded by the ignore lists (`ignore_extensions`, `ignore_filenames`).

### Incorrect permalink updates

**Symptom:** the attachment permalink does not match the new filename.

**Cause:** permalink updating is off, or a custom permalink structure is not compatible with the renaming rules.

**Fix steps:**

1. Enable **Update permalink** (`update_permalink`) on the General Settings tab so new attachments build their permalink from your filename structure.
2. If you use custom permalinks, confirm they are compatible with your renaming rules before uploading.

### Media reference issues

**Symptom:** after a rename, posts still point at the old filename.

**Cause:** reference updating is off, or existing references were saved before the rename.

**Fix steps:**

1. Enable **Update media reference** (`update_media_reference`) on the General Settings tab so references in your content are updated when a file is renamed.
2. If a stubborn reference remains, edit the affected content and re-insert the media, or update the reference by hand.

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Rename Media Files support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/file-renaming-on-upload-wordpress-plugin/).

Related articles

- [Rename Media Files on Upload: Advanced Troubleshooting](https://wpfactory.com/docs/troubleshooting-rename/)
- [How to Rename Media Files on Upload in WordPress](https://wpfactory.com/docs/intro-how-to-use-rename-media-files-on-upload-plugin/)
- [Rename Media Files on Upload: Free vs Pro Versions Compared](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-vs-free-rename/)
- [Rename Media Files on Upload: General Settings](https://wpfactory.com/docs/general-settings/)
- [Rename Media Files Slows Down Admin / Triggers Slow Queries](https://wpfactory.com/docs/rename-media-slow-admin/)

 

[![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/)