How to Upload, Delete, and Download Shopify Files in Bulk
Shopify lets you manage files in bulk from Content > Files in your admin, where you can upload up to 200 files at once and delete many files in a single action. Bulk downloading, bulk replacing and bulk editing alt text aren’t built in, so those tasks need an app or a script that uses Shopify’s API.
The Files library holds images, videos, PDFs and other assets used across your theme, pages, blog posts and metafields. Knowing what the admin can and can’t do in bulk helps you keep the library organized without spending hours on one file at a time.
How to Upload Shopify Files in Bulk
You can upload many files at once from the Files page. The process takes only a few clicks, so follow these steps on desktop:
- In your Shopify admin, go to Content > Files.
- Click Upload files.
- Select up to 200 files from your computer.
- Click Open to start the upload.
In the Shopify mobile app, go to Menu > Content > Files, tap Upload files, select your files and tap Open. Only upload files meant for public access, and keep confidential or personal documents out of the library.
File size and type limits
Every file must meet Shopify’s limits for its type, or the upload fails. These are the main limits:
| File type | Limits | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Images | Up to 20 MB and 25 megapixels, with an aspect ratio between 100:1 and 1:100 | JPEG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, GIF |
| Videos | Up to 1 GB and 10 minutes, with width and height between 100 and 4096 pixels | MOV, MP4, WEBM |
| Generic files | Up to 20 MB | Any type except HTML on paid plans |
Stores on a trial can only upload certain types, such as JS, CSS, GIF, JPEG, PNG, JSON, CSV, PDF, WebP and HEIC, and PDFs need email verification. Image file names also can’t start with a period or end in words such as thumb, small, medium, large or grande.
Storage limits by plan
Shopify doesn’t set a maximum number of files, but total storage, video storage and the number of videos and 3D models depend on your plan. Basic stores get 100 GB of total storage and room for 250 videos and 3D models, while Advanced stores get 500 GB and 5,000.
Plus and Enterprise stores have much higher limits and can contact Support to raise video and 3D model counts. If you downgrade to a plan with less storage, existing files stay, but you can’t upload new ones until you’re under the new limit.
How to Bulk Delete Shopify Files
Bulk deletion is the main bulk action Shopify offers for files. Select the checkboxes next to the files you want to remove, click Delete and confirm, and you can select files across views.
To clear out unused files, filter the list with Used in to find files that aren’t referenced by your store. Files can still be linked from theme code or blog post HTML that the filter may not catch, so check those places before deleting.
Treat deletion as permanent and keep a backup of anything you might need again. Downloading important files first protects you if a page or product turns out to still use them.
Find and Organize Files in Bulk
Filters make large libraries easier to manage before you upload, delete or export anything. The Files page lets you narrow the list in several ways:
- Search. Find files by name or type.
- File type and size. Show only images, videos or other files, or files within a size range.
- Used in. See where a file is referenced, or find files that aren’t used.
- Alt text. Find images and videos with or without alt text.
- Combined filters. Use
is,is not,andandorto build precise filters.
Save filter combinations you use often as views, and customize which columns each view shows. You can also sort by date added, file name or size, though sorting on desktop resets when you refresh the page.
How to Download Shopify Files in Bulk
Shopify doesn’t include a bulk download for the Files library. You can open a file’s preview and download the original, unoptimized version, but only one file at a time.
The product CSV export lists product image URLs, which helps for product images. It doesn’t include other files, such as banners, PDFs or theme videos, and it gives links rather than the files themselves.
For a complete download, you’ll need to go beyond the admin. You have two main options:
- A script using the Admin API. The GraphQL Admin API’s
filesquery returns each file’s URL, so a developer can page through the library and download everything. You’ll need to handle pagination, rate limits and duplicate file names. - A file export app. Some apps download the Files library as a zip file, with filters for unused files, files used in products or upload dates, and options for naming files and organizing folders.
Video embeds from YouTube or Vimeo can’t be downloaded this way, because Shopify only stores a link to them. Files that are still processing may also be skipped.
Bulk Import Files From URLs
When you’re migrating from another platform, your files may already be hosted online. Instead of downloading and re-uploading them by hand, you can import them from their URLs.
Developers can use the Admin API’s fileCreate mutation, which accepts an external URL as the file’s source. Some import and export apps offer the same thing through a spreadsheet, where each row lists a file URL and details such as alt text.
Test a small batch first to confirm the files meet Shopify’s size and type limits. Large videos or unsupported formats will fail even if the URL works.
What You Can’t Edit in Bulk
Several common file edits only work one file at a time in the admin. Plan for these when updating a large library:
- Replacing files. Click the replace icon next to a file and choose a new one in the same format. The name and URL handle stay the same, but the file’s link changes.
- Renaming files. Changing the URL handle renames the file, and the old URL stops working.
- Alt text. Add a short description to each image or video for accessibility.
- Image and video edits. Focal points, cover images and edits in the media editor apply wherever the file is used.
Because edits apply everywhere a file is used, one change can update many pages at once. Renaming or replacing files can also break links in places that point to the old URL, such as emails or external sites.
Common Bulk File Problems
Many file issues come from Shopify’s limits or from links that point to old URLs. Watch for these:
- Uploads fail. The file is over the size limit, uses an unsupported format or has a restricted name.
- You can’t upload new files. Your store has reached its storage, video or 3D model limit for your plan.
- Images break after deleting files. The files were still used in theme code or blog HTML that the Used in filter didn’t detect.
- Links stop working. A file was renamed or replaced, which changed its URL.
- Your export is incomplete. The product CSV only includes product images, not the whole Files library.
- Embedded videos are missing from downloads. YouTube and Vimeo videos are stored as links, not files.
Conclusion
Managing Shopify files in bulk is straightforward for uploads and deletions, while downloads, imports from URLs and bulk edits need an app or the API. Using filters, checking where files are used and keeping backups helps you keep your Files library tidy without breaking your store. We hope this guide helps you manage your Shopify files in bulk with confidence.
