Media Bridge for Bricks brings shared media folders, image compression and EXIF information into your WordPress and Bricks workflow. Organize your library, compare image formats and inspect photo details from the same workspace.
The plugin includes image optimization. You can compress existing images and convert them to WebP, AVIF, or JPEG XL without installing Cimo or purchasing a Cimo Pro license. Processing runs locally in your browser using encoders bundled with Media Bridge.
One folder structure across WordPress and Bricks
Media Bridge’s WordPress views and its provider in the Bricks media manager use the same folder records. Create a folder, assign an image, or change its position, and that organization stays available as you build pages in Bricks.
Create nested folders without a plugin-imposed depth limit, arrange media in a custom order, and include child folders when browsing a parent. Folders organize existing WordPress attachments. Assigning an image to a folder doesn’t upload a copy, and deleting a folder leaves its files in the library.
Choose the familiar WordPress Media Library with folder controls, or use the Enhanced Manager for alternate layouts, richer filters, bulk organization, and an attachment inspector. The Enhanced Manager also lets you customize labels and colors, with numbered pagination or automatic loading as you scroll.
Compare image formats before converting
The Optimization tab brings image compression and format conversion into the attachment inspector. Compress an eligible image in its current format, or compare WebP, AVIF and JPEG XL before choosing a result.
The workflow gives you a chance to inspect the image before committing:
- Open an image and select the Optimization tab.
- Adjust the format quality settings and generate comparison previews.
- Open the full-size previews to compare detail, transparency and file size.
- Choose a result. Media Bridge then processes the image’s stored sizes and saves the conversion.
Comparison initially encodes the full image for each format. It encodes the remaining sizes after you choose, avoiding processing thumbnails in formats you may never use. Quality scales differ between formats, so matching numbers do not necessarily produce matching visual results.
A visible overlay shows progress during processing. Keep the page open until it finishes. Image encoding happens in your browser; the resulting files are saved back to your WordPress site. No external image-encoding service or separate optimizer license is required.
Optimize all stored sizes and retain originals
A conversion covers the full image, its stored generated sizes and an unscaled original when WordPress has retained one. The attachment keeps its ID, folder assignments and image details.
WebP and AVIF conversions update supported WordPress content and Bricks references to use the converted files. Original files remain available for restoration and for references outside the plugin’s update coverage, such as external links or custom integrations.
JPEG XL is offered with an original-format fallback. Media Bridge adds JPEG XL sources to supported image output, allowing browsers that can display the format to use it. Other browsers continue to receive the original image. Existing picture markup, CSS backgrounds and external links retain their current image sources.
After optimization, the tab keeps the selected quality, completion date, total savings and before-and-after figures for each processed file. Use Restore originals to return the attachment and supported references to their previous state while preserving later content edits. Retained originals and converted files use additional storage, so include that space in your media planning.
Keep photo information available
The EXIF tab can show camera, lens, exposure, aperture, ISO, focal length and capture date when those values are available. Media Bridge reads WordPress metadata and retained original files, so photo details can remain available even when a converted image no longer contains embedded EXIF. Information removed from every stored copy cannot be recovered.
Enable the Bricks EXIF integration to use these values in the dynamic data picker under Media Bridge · EXIF. Tags can read the current image in a loop, a post’s featured image or a specific attachment. For example, {mbb_exif_camera} displays the camera for the current image, while {mbb_exif_camera:123} selects attachment 123.
GPS information is optional and disabled by default. With GPS enabled and coordinates available, the EXIF tab can display a separate map setting with satellite imagery from Esri or an OpenStreetMap street layer. Leaflet is bundled with the plugin. Visible maps contact the selected tile provider and disclose the viewed area and normal browser request information. External maps are disabled by default.
Review and maintain your library
Media Health checks help you find missing alternative text, missing image sizes, broken files, oversized images, older formats and suspected duplicates. Suspected duplicates are candidates for review, not instructions to delete files.
The inspector brings titles, alternative text, captions, and descriptions into the media workspace. File replacement preserves the attachment ID, folder assignments, and custom order. To keep an existing URL, the replacement’s final file type must match. Restore an active Media Bridge conversion before replacing that image.
Build galleries from folders
Media Bridge Gallery and Media Bridge Slideshow are available in the WordPress block editor when enabled in settings. Select a folder, optionally include its children, and choose layouts, captions, lightbox controls and EXIF information.
The blocks read the folder’s contents, so adding an image to that folder updates the gallery without selecting it again in each block. A shortcode is also available: [uplink_mbb_gallery collection="portfolio"].
Import an existing folder library
The importer supports HappyFiles, Wicked Folders, Folders by Premio, Enhanced Media Library, and WP Media Folder by JoomUnited. It copies stored folder hierarchies, including empty and nested folders, and can copy their assignments to existing attachments. It does not re-upload or move files.
The source picker distinguishes an active plugin from an inactive installation or leftover folder data. Imports run in batches and can resume and reuse previously imported folders. After import, choose Media Bridge as Bricks’ folder provider to use the copied structure.
Optional cleanup can deactivate a site-active source plugin and remove its verified legacy media-folder data after migration. On multisite, cleanup affects the current site and preserves network activation. Review source-plugin galleries, shortcodes, and restricted folders before clearing their data. The import is a one-time copy; later changes aren’t synchronized, and source access rules, custom ordering, galleries, and shortcodes aren’t converted.
Requirements and optional integrations
Media Bridge for Bricks requires WordPress 6.8 or later, PHP 8.3 or later, and Bricks 2.4 or later. Use an up-to-date browser for local image processing and keep the workspace open while it runs. Conversion and restoration are administrator actions, as are settings and folder imports.
Sites already using Cimo can retain its optional pre-upload integration and Keep originals control. Media Bridge’s own post-upload compression, format comparisons, saved statistics, and restoration work independently of Cimo.