Upload a file from a URL to the WordPress media gallery. Supports images, PDFs, and other file types.

rs_upload_from_url.php

<?php

/**
 * This function uploads a file from a URL to the media library, designed to be placed in your own theme or plugin.
 * Metadata will be generated and images will generate thumbnails automatically.
 *
 * HOW TO USE:
 *    1. Add the function below to your theme or plugin
 *    2. Call the function and provide the URL to an image or other file.
 *    3. If successful, the attachment ID will be returned.
 *
 * BASIC USAGE:
 *    $attachment_id = rs_upload_from_url( "https://www.gstatic.com/webp/gallery/1.jpg" );
 *    if ( $attachment_id ) echo wp_get_attachment_image( $attachment_id, 'large' );
 *
 * DOWNLOAD AS A PLUGIN (optional):
 *    Below is a link to a separate plugin you can upload to your site to help get started. 
 *    It is a fully-functional example and demonstrates upload both JPG and WEBP image by using a "secret" url. 
 *    It also provides an easy way to delete the test images that were created.
 *    @see https://gist.github.com/RadGH/be30af96617b13e7848a4626ef179bbd
 *
 * To upload from a *LOCAL FILE PATH* instead of a URL:
 * @see: https://gist.github.com/RadGH/3b544c827193927d1772
 */


/**
 * Upload a file to the media library using a URL.
 * 
 * @version 1.4
 * @author  Radley Sustaire
 * @see     https://gist.github.com/RadGH/966f8c756c5e142a5f489e86e751eacb
 *
 * @param string $url           URL to be uploaded
 * @param null|string $title    Override the default post_title
 * @param null|string $content  Override the default post_content (Added in 1.3)
 * @param null|string $alt      Override the default alt text (Added in 1.3)
 * @param null|string $caption  Override the default caption / post excerpt (Added in 1.4)
 *
 * @return int|false
 */
function rs_upload_from_url( $url, $title = null, $content = null, $alt = null, $caption = null ) {
	require_once( ABSPATH . "/wp-load.php");
	require_once( ABSPATH . "/wp-admin/includes/image.php");
	require_once( ABSPATH . "/wp-admin/includes/file.php");
	require_once( ABSPATH . "/wp-admin/includes/media.php");
	
	// Download url to a temp file
	$tmp = download_url( $url );
	if ( is_wp_error( $tmp ) ) return false;
	
	// Ignore query params to fix issues with certain URLS
	// @see https://gist.github.com/RadGH/966f8c756c5e142a5f489e86e751eacb?permalink_comment_id=5626880#gistcomment-5626880
	$url_path  = parse_url($url, PHP_URL_PATH);
	
	// Get the filename and extension ("photo.png" => "photo", "png")
	$filename  = pathinfo($url_path, PATHINFO_FILENAME);
	$extension = pathinfo($url_path, PATHINFO_EXTENSION);
	
	// An extension is required or else WordPress will reject the upload
	if ( ! $extension ) {
		// Look up mime type, example: "/photo.png" -> "image/png"
		$mime = mime_content_type( $tmp );
		$mime = is_string($mime) ? sanitize_mime_type( $mime ) : false;
		
		// Only allow certain mime types because mime types do not always end in a valid extension (see the .doc example below)
		$mime_extensions = array(
			// mime_type         => extension (no period)
			'text/plain'         => 'txt',
			'text/csv'           => 'csv',
			'application/msword' => 'doc',
			'image/jpg'          => 'jpg',
			'image/jpeg'         => 'jpeg',
			'image/gif'          => 'gif',
			'image/png'          => 'png',
			'video/mp4'          => 'mp4',
		);
		
		if ( isset( $mime_extensions[$mime] ) ) {
			// Use the mapped extension
			$extension = $mime_extensions[$mime];
		}else{
			// Could not identify extension. Clear temp file and abort.
			wp_delete_file($tmp);
			return false;
		}
	}
	
	// Upload by "sideloading": "the same way as an uploaded file is handled by media_handle_upload"
	$args = array(
		'name' => "$filename.$extension",
		'tmp_name' => $tmp,
	);
	
	// Post data to override the post title, content, and alt text
	$post_data = array();
	if ( $title )   $post_data['post_title'] = $title;
	if ( $content ) $post_data['post_content'] = $content;
	if ( $caption ) $post_data['post_excerpt'] = $caption;
	
	// Do the upload
	$attachment_id = media_handle_sideload( $args, 0, null, $post_data );
	
	// Clear temp file
	wp_delete_file($tmp);
	
	// Error uploading
	if ( is_wp_error($attachment_id) ) return false;
	
	// Save alt text as post meta if provided
	if ( $alt ) update_post_meta( $attachment_id, '_wp_attachment_image_alt', $alt );
	
	// Success, return attachment ID
	return (int) $attachment_id;
}

Hi,
The script works perfectly for URLs that have extensions like .jpg.
Can the code be adjusted for images from a URL that doesn’t have an extension, but the image can still be downloaded in jpg format?
An example is a Hikvision camera with the URL: http://user:password@publicIP/ISAPI/Streaming/channels/101/picture.
As you can see, the URL doesn’t have an extension at the end, but when the link is opened, the image is displayed and can be downloaded as a jpg.
another example is: https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-with-dslr-camera-e616t35Vbeg

@acot123 There is very basic support for that, but you will probably have to customize this part further: if ( ! $extension ) { ... }

You'll need to verify the mime_content_type is loading correctly and adjust the array of extensions if necessary.

Thanks a lot for this code! :) Two tweaks I needed in case you need them too:

Ignore query params so that URLs like this won't create a broken file.

// Get the filename and extension (".../folder/photo.png?query=..." => "photo", "png")
$url_path  = parse_url($url, PHP_URL_PATH);
$filename  = pathinfo($url_path, PATHINFO_FILENAME);
$extension = pathinfo($url_path, PATHINFO_EXTENSION);

Set image caption if you need it.

function bc_upload_from_url([...], $caption = null ) {
	[...]
	if ( $caption ) $post_data['post_excerpt'] = $caption;

@brickup-de Thanks for the contribution! I've added those to the original function, I think they are both useful additions.