---
title: "Add and manage media"
canonical_url: https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/media/
source: docs/editor/media.md
content_revision: 6338386a1dd87e4a
---

# Add and manage media

Use the **Images**, **Videos**, **Audio**, and **GIFs** tools to add assets from a URL, your uploads, or Zvid's stock library.

## When to use it

Use uploaded assets for your own product photography, footage, and music. Use a reachable URL for existing hosted media, or search Zvid's stock library for additional content.

## Before you begin

Account uploads require signing in. Source URLs must remain reachable by the render service when a render runs. A file that opens on your computer is not necessarily accessible to cloud rendering; see [Media assets](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/concepts/media-assets/).

## How to add media by URL

**Navigation:** **Editor → Images / Videos / Audio / GIFs**.

1. Select the appropriate media tool.
2. Expand **Add image by URL**, **Add video by URL**, **Add audio by URL**, or **Add GIF by URL**.
3. Paste the source URL. If you are authoring a template, use the variable insertion control to choose a defined placeholder.
4. Click **Add image**, **Add video**, **Add audio**, or **Add GIF**.
5. Select the inserted item to adjust its properties and [timing](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/timeline/).

![Zvid Images panel with Add image by URL expanded, its URL field, and Add image button.](https://docs.zvid.io/img/dashboard-guide/editor-images-url.png)

Media is added to the current scene or global timeline. Check the selected scene and playhead before adding several assets.

## How to upload a file

1. Open the relevant media tool and find **Your uploads**.
2. Click **Upload**, then choose a matching file, or drop it into the uploads area.
3. Wait for the upload progress to finish.
4. Click the uploaded item to insert it. Visual assets can also be dragged onto the canvas.
5. Use **Play preview** for an audio asset before adding it.

Uploads belong to your account library and can be reused in other projects. Upload acceptance and render acceptance are separate: duration, resolution, file size, and plan limits may still prevent a render. See [media asset requirements](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/concepts/media-assets/) for the current rules.

## How to search the stock library

1. Open a media tool and find **Stock**. In **Audio**, select **Music** first.
2. Enter a search term. Press Enter to run the search immediately.
3. Scroll to load additional results, or use **Load more** when shown.
4. Hover a video or GIF result to preview it; use **Play preview** for audio.
5. Click a result to add it at the playhead, or drag a visual result onto the canvas or timeline.

For short audio cues, open **Audio → Sound effects**. Search the list, preview a sound, then click its add control.

## How to delete an uploaded asset

1. In **Your uploads**, find the file.
2. Click **Delete upload**.
3. Read the confirmation and confirm only when you no longer need the hosted file.

> **Deleting an upload can break future renders**
Deletion removes the hosted asset, not just an element in the current project. Other projects or templates referencing its URL can stop loading it once the file is gone. There is no restore action in this panel. To remove one use from your composition, select the element and choose **Delete** instead.

## Troubleshooting

### Uploads or stock results do not load

**Cause:** The request failed, or uploads need an account session.

**Solution:** Sign in if prompted. Use **Retry** in the affected section and check the message beside it. For a URL source, confirm that the URL returns the media itself without requiring a private browser session.

## What happens next

Each visual asset becomes an editable element; audio becomes a timeline track. Continue with the controls for your asset:

- [Images and GIFs](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/images/)
- [Video clips](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/video/)
- [Audio and music](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/audio/)
- [Position and canvas settings](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/canvas/)