What solutions are available for timeouts when loading directories and files via FTP?

This can happen if a) the directory to be loaded is very large and b) the FTP connection between your WordPress hosting and the target server is sluggish. You have various options for solving this: Enter a more precise FTP directory when connecting. Not just ftp://example.com but e.g. ftp://example.com/mydirectory/ to load only this directory. Switch to a different protocol for loading the files.

WordPress Plugins from Thomas Zwirner

External files in the media library

WordPress plugin

free of charge

media library

Add one or more files via their URLs under „Media → Add new media file“. This way, you can use external files wherever the media library is available.

Plugin page:

https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/external-files-in-media-library/

Support forum: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/external-files-in-media-library/

GitHub repository: https://github.com/threadi/external-files-in-media-library

Articles

I get timeouts when loading the FTP directory.
What solutions are available for timeouts when loading directories and files via FTP? Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a size limit for files in the media library?
WordPress itself does not impose any size restrictions on files in the media library. Read here to find out what limits do exist and how you can get around them. Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
Installation of „External files in the media library“
The ways to install the „External files in the media library“ plugin are described here. Read more
Installation
I can't upload ZIP files!
Uploading ZIP files is disabled by default in the „External files in the media library“ plugin. However, you can change this as follows: Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the plugin to bypass my hosting's upload size limit?
Yes, absolutely. With the „External Files in the Media Library“ plugin, you store files on an external host rather than locally. This means that the limits on your hosting do not apply. Read more
Frequently Asked Questions, feature
Unpacking files in the media library
The plugin offers several ways to open ZIP files, both individually and completely. Read more
feature
Unzip ZIP files in media library
The plugin „External Files in the Media Library“ also allows ZIP files to be unpacked into the media library. The files from the ZIP file are inserted into the media library as normal files. Read more
feature
How can I retrieve a single file from an UpdraftPlus backup?
This is also possible with the „External files in the media library“ plugin. To do this, go to: FAQ I don't see a ZIP file! Why is that? You must first activate the ZIP files in the plugin settings. Will the file overwrite the existing file when it is unpacked? No, this never happens as this is not permitted by the plugin.... Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
The import dialog
The plugin brings a very influential import dialog with which you can influence the behavior when importing external files into your media library. Read more
GUI
Integrate files via WebDAV
The „External Files in the Media Library“ plugin allows you to use files from various external sources, including a WebDAV directory. Read more
feature