# Safe Media Offload: what it doesn't do, and FAQ

> The limits of Safe Media Offload, and answers to common questions.

## What it doesn't do

- It doesn't purge your CDN. A replaced file keeps its URL, so purge it there.
- Page-builder data kept outside post content, such as Elementor's generated CSS and JSON, isn't rewritten.
- It doesn't store files in non-S3 services such as Google Drive, or use Cloudflare Images.
- With a private bucket, Easy Digital Downloads files are copied there but still served from your server.
- On multisite, each sub-site's files go under `sites/<id>/` in the bucket, as they do on disk; the main site's keys are unchanged. There's nothing beyond that.
- If you move your site to a new domain, deleting media offloaded before the move leaves its files in the bucket. Delete them there.

## FAQ

### I replaced an image and still see the old one

Files keep their names, so a replaced image or a regenerated thumbnail goes to the same URL. Browsers check again after a day. Your CDN keeps files much longer, so purge the URL there (in Cloudflare: Caching › Configuration › Purge by URL).

### What happens if I deactivate the plugin?

While every file still has a local copy, nothing: your site serves them from its own server again. If you turned on **Delete local copies after offloading**, the bucket is the only copy of those files, so they stop loading until the plugin is active again. The Plugins screen says how many and asks first. Run **Restore local copies** before removing the plugin for good.

### Does uninstalling delete my files?

Never from the bucket. Uninstalling removes the settings and credentials, but keeps the records of files that exist only in the bucket, so reinstalling serves them again.

### Do uploads wait for the bucket?

Not on PHP-FPM and LiteSpeed hosts: the copy starts once WordPress has answered.

### Can I change the bucket or domain later?

Yes. Each file remembers where it went, so earlier uploads keep working from their bucket. A new delivery domain for the same bucket applies to earlier uploads too.

### Where do I enter my license key?

Under **Settings › Safe Media Offload**, in the License card at the bottom.

Checked against ZealDen Safe Media Offload 1.0.3 on main, 19 October 2026.