Uploads Relay for Local Development by Carl Alberto
Uploads Relay makes local WordPress development easier and lightweight by automatically proxying missing upload files from a remote server. No need to download gigabytes of media just to work on a site locally. Features Proxy Missing Files — Automatically serve missing upload files from a remote ser
Uploads Relay makes local WordPress development easier and lightweight by automatically proxying missing upload files from a remote server. No need to download gigabytes of media just to work on a site locally.
Features
- Proxy Missing Files — Automatically serve missing upload files from a remote server.
- Always Remote Mode — Rewrite all upload URLs to point to the remote server for the fastest setup.
- Optional Local Caching — Cache proxied files locally so subsequent requests are served from disk.
- Security First — Path traversal protection, host allowlisting, and file extension validation.
- Environment Guard — Only active when WordPress environment type is set to “local”.
- Zero Configuration on Remote — No changes needed on the remote/production server.
How It Works
- 01A visitor or developer requests an upload file (e.g., an image in a post).
- 02If the file does not exist locally, WordPress returns a 404.
- 03The plugin intercepts the 404, fetches the file from the configured remote server, and serves it.
- 04Optionally, the file is cached locally for faster subsequent loads.
Use Cases
- Local development of large WordPress sites without syncing media.
- Staging environments with partial media libraries.
- Quick site clones for debugging or testing.
Requirements
- WordPress 6.0 or higher
- PHP 7.4 or higher
- WP_ENVIRONMENT_TYPE must be set to local (the plugin will not function in production environments)
External Service
This plugin sends HTTP requests to a remote server that you configure yourself in order to fetch upload files missing from your local environment. No requests are made until you explicitly enter a remote URL and enable the proxy in Settings → Uploads Relay. By enabling the plugin and providing a remote URL, you consent to these requests being made.
