How to use mime_types filter in WordPress

mime_types filter

This filter should be used to add, not remove, mime types. To remove mime types, use the ‘upload_mimes’ filter.

To use the mime_types filter, first you have to register it using add_filter. You can write this code into the functions.php of your activated theme or in a custom WordPress Plugin.

We at WePlugins, always prefer to create a custom WordPress Plugin while using hooks so nothing breaks when you update your WordPress Theme in the future.

In the below live example, we have defined a function modify_mime_types_defaults which takes 1 parameter and we registered it using add_filter. The first parameter mime_types is the name of the hook, the second parameter modify_mime_types_defaults is the name of the function which needs to be called, the third parameter is the priority of calling the hook if the same hook is used multiple times and the last parameter is the number of arguments (if any) to be passed in the registered function.

Sometimes, you have to remove a registered hook so you can use remove_filter to remove the mime_types filter.

Parameters

Below the 1 parameter is required to use this hook.

• $wp_get_mime_types : (string[]) Mime types keyed by the file extension regex corresponding to those types.

Live Example

Add webp to allowed media types

Below is an example of how you can add the webp mime type to the allowed media types.

    /**
     * Add webp to allowed media types
     */
    function weplugins_add_webp( $wp_get_mime_types ) {
        $wp_get_mime_types['webp'] = 'image/webp';
        return $wp_get_mime_types;
    }
    add_filter( 'mime_types', 'weplugins_add_webp' );
    

Modify mime types defaults

Below is an example of how you can use this hook to modify the mime types defaults.

    function weplugins_modify_mime_types_defaults($wp_get_mime_types) { 
        // Update the $wp_get_mime_types variable according to your website requirements and return this variable. 
        // You can modify the $wp_get_mime_types variable conditionally too if you want.
        return $wp_get_mime_types; 
    }
    // add the filter
    add_filter( "mime_types", "weplugins_modify_mime_types_defaults", 10, 1 );
    

Remove a hook callback

To remove a hook callback, use the example below.

    remove_filter( "mime_types", "weplugins_modify_mime_types_defaults", 10, 1 );
    

Please make sure to provide the same callback function name, priority and number of arguments while removing the hook callback.

Contact Us

If you’re having any trouble using this hook, please contact our WordPress Development Team and we’d be happy to assist you.