Keep File Manager for Server Files, Offload the Media to the Cloud
File Manager browses the files on your server: themes, plugins, code, and config. Infinite Uploads moves your Media Library to cloud storage and a global CDN. Once local copies are freed, your uploads folder shrinks, so File Manager shows less there. Everything else stays where it was.
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File Manager and Infinite Uploads: Server Files on One Side, Media on the Other
File Manager is an elFinder-based file browser inside wp-admin. You can browse, upload, edit, zip, and download files on your server. It adds a code editor, an optional trash, and backups of themes, plugins, uploads, and your database. It works on the files on your server's local disk.
Infinite Uploads handles the media. It offloads your Media Library to cloud storage and serves it from a global CDN, with AVIF and WebP Image Optimization on the Business plan. Your hosting stays small and pages stay fast. File Manager keeps managing your themes, plugins, and code as before.
The two meet in one place, the uploads folder. After you free local copies, it is nearly empty, because your media now lives in cloud storage. File Manager reads only the local disk, so it will not list offloaded files. Browse them in the Media Library, and use Video Cloud, on every plan, for video.
Four Things Infinite Uploads Does for a File Manager Site
Most offload plugins move files and stop. These are the parts that matter when you also manage your server through a file browser.
Your Server Files Stay Where You Left Them
Themes, plugins, wp-config.php, and .htaccess live outside the uploads folder. Infinite Uploads only handles media files, so File Manager still browses and edits your code and configuration as before. The offload reaches your photos, videos, and documents, and nothing else.
A Lighter Uploads Folder, Lighter Hosting
A full disk stalls backups, blocks uploads, and forces hosting upgrades. Free local copies after sync and the space returns to your plan. Image Optimization, on the Business plan, then serves right-sized AVIF and WebP from the CDN, so pages stay light.
Find Offloaded Media in the Media Library
Offloaded files do not appear in a file browser, and that is expected. Media Folders, search, and sort keep a large library easy to navigate, with every file served from the CDN. Download & Disconnect brings your library back to local disk if you want it there.
Video With a Customizable Player
Upload a video to Media > Video Library and Video Cloud streams it adaptively in a customizable player. It is included on every plan, with no Vimeo or Wistia bill. A plain MP4 in the Media Library is offloaded and served from the CDN as-is.
Why Sites Pair File Manager With Infinite Uploads
One Bill, Smaller Hosting
Cloud storage, a global CDN, and Video Cloud on one monthly price. Offloading media keeps your server small, so you avoid a hosting upgrade when a media-heavy site outgrows its disk.
Add It Without Reconfiguring File Manager
Connect Infinite Uploads and sync. File Manager keeps its settings, root path, and trash. Your existing media moves to the cloud, and Download & Disconnect returns files to local disk if you want them back.
Every Client Site on One Account
Agencies that install File Manager on client sites connect them all to one Infinite Uploads account. Unlimited sites, one invoice, and WordPress Multisite support at every plan level, with no cloud keys to share.
What Works, Feature by Feature
Feature
What you get
Themes, plugins, and code
These live outside uploads, so File Manager browses and edits them as it always did. Infinite Uploads only handles media files.
Works
Uploads before local copies are freed
While local copies remain, the files stay on disk and File Manager lists them. Infinite Uploads syncs them to cloud storage.
Works
Uploads after local copies are freed
File Manager reads only the local disk, so offloaded media no longer appears there. The files sit in cloud storage and still serve from the CDN.
Shows little
Finding offloaded media
Use the Media Library, with Media Folders, search, and sort. Every offloaded file still lists there and serves from the CDN.
Works
Files Upload to Media Library setting
When you enable it, File Manager adds uploaded files to the Media Library. Each becomes a normal Media Library item, so Infinite Uploads handles it like any upload.
Works
Backups folder
New backups go to a private folder above your public web root, where your host allows it. Older ones sit in uploads/wp-file-manager-pro, which Infinite Uploads keeps on local disk by default.
Works
Trash folder
The optional trash lives inside the File Manager plugin folder, not uploads. Offloading does not change where deleted files go.
Works
Uploads backup archive
The uploads backup zips what is on local disk. Once local copies are freed, the archive holds little, because your media copy is in cloud storage.
Local files only
Video on Video Cloud
Upload to Media > Video Library, then embed with the Infinite Uploads block or shortcode. Adaptive streaming in a customizable player, included on every plan.
Works, Video Cloud
Up and Running in Three Steps
1. Connect Infinite Uploads
Install the plugin, connect your account, and sync. File Manager and its settings stay as you configured them. Your themes, plugins, and code are not touched.
2. Check Where Your Media Shows
Open the Media Library and confirm your files list and load from the CDN. In File Manager, uploads still shows files until you free local copies in the next step.
3. Free Up Local Storage
Once the sync completes, remove the local copies from Infinite Uploads settings. Your hosting plan gets its space back and your media keeps serving from the CDN.
Good to Know Before You Switch
File Manager shows the local disk, not your cloud storage. After you free local copies, the uploads folder is nearly empty, and that is expected. Your media sits in Infinite Uploads cloud storage and lists in the Media Library. Keep using File Manager for themes, plugins, code, and configs.
Be careful editing or deleting inside uploads. Files there may be media your pages still point to. Remove media from the Media Library rather than the file browser, and take a backup before any bulk change. File Manager's own root path setting warns that a wrong path can break the plugin.
Check backups and the Pro edition on your own site. Recent File Manager releases write backups outside uploads, and the old uploads/wp-file-manager-pro folder stays local by default. We reviewed the free plugin only. Check the pricing calculator to size your storage.
How We Checked
- Read File Manager's source to see where it writes under uploads.
- Read File Manager's readme for backups, trash, and the Media Library setting.
- Matched its folder names to the exclusion list in the Infinite Uploads source.
- Reviewed the compatibility scan findings for File Manager.
- Mapped each table row to a file path or setting.
Result: File Manager reads the local disk only, and its own folders sit apart from your media. Test backups on your own site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my uploads folder empty in File Manager?
File Manager lists files on the local disk. After Infinite Uploads offloads your media and you free local copies, those files live in cloud storage instead. They still serve from the CDN and list in the Media Library.
Can File Manager browse my cloud storage?
No. It reads the server's local disk. Use the Media Library to browse, search, and sort offloaded files, or restore them to local disk with one click if you want them in File Manager again.
Is it safe to delete files in uploads with File Manager?
Not without checking first. Your pages may still point to those files, and offloaded media is not listed there anyway. Remove media in the Media Library, and take a backup before any bulk change.
Where does File Manager keep its backups?
Recent releases write new backups to a private folder above your public web root, where your host allows it. Older backups sit in uploads/wp-file-manager-pro, which Infinite Uploads keeps on local disk by default.
Where does File Manager's trash go?
The optional trash is a folder inside the File Manager plugin directory, not uploads. Infinite Uploads only syncs your uploads folder, so deleted files stay in that plugin folder.
Does this work on Multisite?
Yes. Infinite Uploads supports WordPress Multisite at every plan level, and every subsite offloads to the same account. File Manager asks for network-level access on a Multisite install.
What if a video is bigger than my upload limit?
Add our free Big File Uploads plugin. It lifts the WordPress upload limit without server changes, so large files upload normally and Infinite Uploads delivers them.
Does this page cover File Manager Pro?
We reviewed the free File Manager from WordPress.org. Pro adds features such as user roles and cloud add-ons. Test Pro on your own site, and check which folders it writes under uploads.
More Plugins That Work With Infinite Uploads
- Infinite Uploads and UpdraftPlus
- Infinite Uploads and WPvivid
- Infinite Uploads and MainWP
- See all integrations
Try Infinite Uploads on the Free Plan
No cloud accounts. No access keys. Install the plugin, connect your site, and your images, videos, and files start moving to the cloud automatically, while File Manager keeps managing your server.
Free plan, no credit card. Paid plans from $8.25/mo. Unlimited sites.