How to Use a Direct Video or Audio URL
A direct URL source lets WP Media Player play any publicly accessible video or audio file without you having to upload it to the WordPress Media Library. Paste the file URL, set a title, pick a preset, and generate your shortcode.
In this guide, you will learn how to:
- Add an audio file
- Add a direct video URL
- Choose a preset and load strategy
- Save your media and place it on any page with a shortcode
Option 1: Use an Audio File
- Go to WP Media Player > Media > Add New.
- In the source picker, select the Audio card.
- The media library opens filtered to audio files. Pick an existing file or upload a new one.
Supported audio formats:
- MP3
- WAV
- OGG
- AAC
- M4A
- FLAC
- WMA
What changes for audio
Once your file is loaded, the media editor looks a little different from the video editor:
- A Description field appears below the title. This text is shown with the audio player on the frontend.
- The aspect ratio and video-end options are hidden, because they do not apply to audio.
- Everything else works the same as it does for video, including preset, load strategy, autoplay mode, and layers.
Option 2: Use a Direct Video URL
- Go to WP Media Player > Media > Add New.
- In the source picker, choose Paste a media URL.
- Paste a direct link to an MP4, WebM, or other video file.
For a raw file URL, the player loads the file directly from your server or CDN.
YouTube and Vimeo links are detected automatically
If the URL you paste matches a YouTube or Vimeo pattern, WP Media Player detects the source and handles it as that provider instead of a raw file.
Title and thumbnail for raw URLs
Unlike YouTube and Vimeo, the title and thumbnail are not filled in automatically for raw file URLs. To finish setting up your video:
- Enter the Video Title manually.
- Upload a Thumbnail if you want a poster image to show before playback.
Choose a Preset and Save
PresetPick a preset for your audio or video. Audio files support all six free skins. Each skin has a dedicated audio layout that shows the poster or album art on the left, with the title and description above the controls.Load StrategyControls when the player loads. Visible is the default. For audio podcasts or episodes, Play or Poster often make sense, because the listener starts playback on purpose.
When you are happy with the settings:
- Click Save Changes.
- Copy the shortcode from the field at the bottom of the editor. It looks like this:
[wp-media-player id="123"] - Paste the shortcode into any post, page, or widget area.
Checklist: Make Sure Everything Works
After publishing, confirm the following:
- Audio: the description text appears below the title in the player.
- Video: the poster image or thumbnail appears before playback starts.
- The correct skin layout renders. Audio players use a dedicated audio control bar, not the video control bar.
- Playback starts, and the file streams from the direct URL without depending on the Media Library.
Next Steps
Direct URLs work for files hosted anywhere with a public link. If your videos are hosted on a CDN or cloud storage provider with API integration, see: