thanks for all the advice but before i start can i ask , if you delete the images will they still stay on the public listings?
Topic summary
How to delete images from a Shopify store’s library and where to find them after UI changes.
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Deletion location evolved: Initially via Settings > Files (per an older Shopify reply), but Files has since moved to the left sidebar under Content > Files. Direct URL: /admin/content/files. A screenshot was shared confirming this newer path.
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Deleting files is permanent; download a copy before removal. Some users initially couldn’t find Settings; a workaround was /admin/settings/files (now outdated).
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Not all images appear in Files: media uploaded directly on product pages may not show in Content/Files or search as expected. Search behavior normalizes filenames (spaces/special characters become underscores), and re-uploads add random suffixes, creating duplicates.
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Reported issues: replacing an image with the same filename can resurrect the “deleted” original on product pages unless added via URL; bulk updates via CSV struggle with this caching/versioning behavior.
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Workarounds: standardize filenames before upload; upload to Content > Files first, then attach to products via CSV/Excelify or “Add media from URL”; search and delete duplicated suffixed versions prior to re-attach.
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Open questions: how to safely delete duplicates without breaking in-use images, and whether deleting from Files removes images from public listings.