Using WordPress ‘media_upload_default_type’ PHP filter

by

The media_upload_default_type WordPress PHP filter allows you to change the default media upload type in the legacy (pre-3.5.0) media popup.

Usage

add_filter('media_upload_default_type', 'your_custom_media_upload_default_type');

function your_custom_media_upload_default_type($type) {
    // your custom code here
    return $type;
}

Parameters

  • $type string – The default media upload type. Possible values include ‘image’, ‘audio’, ‘video’, ‘file’, etc. Default ‘file’.

More information

See WordPress Developer Resources: media_upload_default_type

Examples

Set default media upload type to image

This example sets the default media upload type to ‘image’.

add_filter('media_upload_default_type', 'set_default_upload_to_image');

function set_default_upload_to_image($type) {
    $type = 'image';
    return $type;
}

Set default media upload type to audio

This example sets the default media upload type to ‘audio’.

add_filter('media_upload_default_type', 'set_default_upload_to_audio');

function set_default_upload_to_audio($type) {
    $type = 'audio';
    return $type;
}

Set default media upload type to video

This example sets the default media upload type to ‘video’.

add_filter('media_upload_default_type', 'set_default_upload_to_video');

function set_default_upload_to_video($type) {
    $type = 'video';
    return $type;
}

Set default media upload type based on user role

This example sets the default media upload type based on the current user’s role. If the user is an ‘editor’, it sets the default to ‘image’. Otherwise, it sets the default to ‘file’.

add_filter('media_upload_default_type', 'set_default_upload_based_on_role');

function set_default_upload_based_on_role($type) {
    if (current_user_can('editor')) {
        $type = 'image';
    } else {
        $type = 'file';
    }
    return $type;
}

Set default media upload type depending on the current post type

This example sets the default media upload type based on the current post type. If the current post type is ‘gallery’, it sets the default to ‘image’. Otherwise, it sets the default to ‘file’.

add_filter('media_upload_default_type', 'set_default_upload_based_on_post_type');

function set_default_upload_based_on_post_type($type) {
    global $post;
    if ($post->post_type == 'gallery') {
        $type = 'image';
    } else {
        $type = 'file';
    }
    return $type;
}