How to Add Categories and Tags to WordPress Media Library

Want to Organize Your WordPress Images with Categories and Tags?

Adding categories and tags to your images in WordPress can help you keep your media files organized, making it easier to find images when you need them.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to add categories and tags to your WordPress media library. We’ll cover two methods: adding categories and adding tags.

Why Add Categories and Tags to Images?

WordPress uses taxonomies to sort posts into categories and tags. These taxonomies are usually for posts but can be applied to any post type, including images in your media library.

Adding categories and tags to images helps you sort and find them easily. Instead of searching through the entire media library, you can search by category or tag.

Here’s how to add categories and tags to your WordPress media library:

Method 1: Adding Categories to Images

1. Install and Activate the Media Library Categories Plugin:
   • First, install and activate the Media Library Categories plugin. This plugin adds a Categories tab under the Media menu in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Add New Categories:
   • Go to Media » Categories in the admin sidebar. Here, you can see all your post categories. To create a new category, type a name and slug in the ‘Add New Category’ section and click ‘Add New Category.’
3. Assign Categories to Images:
   • Go to Media » Library, click ‘Edit’ under any image, and select a category from the ‘Categories’ section on the right. Click ‘Update’ to save.
4. Filter Images by Category:
   • On the Media » Library page, you can filter images by category using the ‘View all categories’ dropdown menu and the ‘Filter’ button.

Method 2: Adding Tags to Images

1. Install and Activate the Envira Gallery Plugin:
   • Install and activate the Envira Gallery plugin. Note that you’ll need at least the Plus plan to use the Tags add-on. Enter your license key in Envira Gallery » Settings.
2. Install and Activate the Tags Addon:
   • Go to Envira Gallery » Addons, find the ‘Tags Addon’, and click ‘Install’. Toggle the switch to activate it.
3. Create or Edit a Gallery:
   • Create a new gallery in Envira Gallery » Add New or edit an existing one. Add images from your media library or computer.
4. Add Tags to Images:
   • Click the pencil icon on an image in your gallery to open the ‘Edit Metadata’ popup. Add tags by separating them with commas and click ‘Save Metadata.’
5. Enable Tag Filtering:
   • In the gallery settings, go to the ‘Tags’ tab and check ‘Enable Tag Filtering’. Choose specific tags for filtering if needed and click ‘Publish.’
6. Filter Images by Tag in the Media Library:
   • Go to Media » Envira Tags in the admin sidebar. Click on the number of items next to a tag to view images with that tag.
7. Filter Images by Tag on the Front End:
   • Add the gallery to a page or post using the Envira Gallery block. Users can filter images by tags when viewing the gallery.

Bonus: Prevent Image Theft

Worried about people stealing your images? Here are a few tips:

1. Disable Right-Click:
   • Prevent users from saving your images by disabling right-click.
2. Add Watermarks:
   • Use the Watermark addon from Envira Gallery to add watermarks to your images.
3. Other Measures:
   • Register your copyright, use digital signatures, and include hidden layers to protect your images.

By following these steps, you can easily organize and protect your images in the WordPress media library.