# Media

Source: https://capacms.com/docs/editor/media

Upload images, video and documents, write alt text, replace and delete files, and how images are resized for your site.

**Media** in the sidebar holds every file in the project: images, video, audio and documents. Entries use them through image, video and file fields.

## Upload files

1. Choose **Media**, then **Upload**.
2. Drag files onto the panel, paste them with **⌘V** (**Ctrl+V**), or choose **Click to Select Files**.

![The Upload files panel over the media grid, with two files uploading](https://capacms.com/img/docs/media-upload-light.webp)

Each file shows its progress, with a button to cancel it. Files go into the media folder you have open.

| Kind      | Accepted                                       |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Images    | JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, WebP, AVIF, SVG            |
| Video     | MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, AVI                       |
| Audio     | MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A, AAC                  |
| Documents | PDF, TXT, CSV, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX |

* A file can be up to 800 MB. Text and CSV files can be up to 16 MB, and SVGs up to 8 MB.
* HEIC photos from an iPhone are not accepted. Export them as JPG first.
* A file's contents must match its extension.
* Your plan sets how much the project can store in all. When there is a limit, a meter at the top of **Media** shows how much is used.

You can also upload straight from an entry's image or file field. Those files go to the top level of the library.

## Find files

* **Search files** matches file names.
* Filter by **Type**, **Size**, **Date** and **Alt text**. **No alt text** finds the images that still need a description.
* **Sort** by upload date, newest or oldest first.
* Switch between **Grid View** and **List View**.

Click a file to open it full screen. Use the arrow keys to move between files, **+** and **−** to zoom, and **Esc** to close. **File Details** shows its size, type, alt text and URL.

## Write alt text

Alt text describes an image for people who cannot see it, and for search engines. Write what the image shows, in a sentence.

* **One file:** open its menu, choose **Edit file**, fill in **Alt Text**, and choose **Update**.
* **Many files:** open **More actions** at the top of **Media**, turn on **Quick edit**, write alt text beside each file, then choose **Save All**.

### How alt text reaches your site

When you pick an image in an entry, its alt text is copied into the entry. After that the entry's own alt text is what your site gets.

So changing alt text in **Media** updates only the entries whose own alt text is empty. To change it everywhere, edit it in each entry too.

## Copy a file's URL

Open the file's menu and choose **Copy media URL**. Every file has a public URL on Capa's CDN:

```
https://cdn.capacms.com/files/winter-field-guide-cover_1759302000000_3f9c1a7b2e4d.jpg
```

Anyone with the link can open the file. Do not upload anything that must stay private.

## Replace a file

Open the file's menu and choose **Replace file**. Upload a new file or pick one from the library, compare **Current** and **New**, and confirm.

The URL stays the same, so every entry that uses the file points at the new one. Capa's CDN can keep serving the old file for a long time, and a visitor's browser may too. If the change must show, upload a new file and pick it in the entries instead.

## See where a file is used

Open the file's menu and choose **View references**. It lists the entries that use the file.

## Delete a file

Open the file's menu, choose **Delete file**, and confirm. The file is removed for good.

Entries that used it keep its old address, which no longer works, so their image breaks. Check **View references** first, and pick another file in those entries.

## Folders

Media folders appear in your sidebar workspace, not on the **Media** page. To show one, choose **Add media folders…** in a workspace folder's menu.

To move files, drag them from the grid onto a media folder in the sidebar. See [Navigating the admin](https://capacms.com/docs/editor/navigating#workspaces).

## Automatic resizing

You upload one large original. Your site asks for the size it needs, and Capa makes it on the fly: smaller, cropped, or in a lighter format such as WebP.

There is nothing to do in the admin. Upload the best original you have. Developers can read how in [Images](https://capacms.com/docs/guides/images).

## Who can do what

Everyone can view media. Admins, developers and the Content role can upload, edit, replace and delete.