Background

The grid view of the Media Library (including the Media Modal) has supported infinite scrolling for a long time, where attachments load automatically as you scroll instead of behind a Load more button. That behavior was controlled by the media_library_infinite_scrolling filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks. They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output., which defaulted to false since WordPress 5.8 due to accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility), performance, and usability concerns (#50105 / r50829 / #40330). As a result, infinite scrolling was effectively off for everyone unless a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. or theme opted in via the filter.

The Load more button has long been a friction point for users managing large media libraries, and the smoother infinite-scroll experience was hidden behind code that most sites never enabled.

What changed

In WordPress 7.1 (#65564):

1. Infinite scrolling is now enabled by default. The media_library_infinite_scrolling filter now defaults to true, so the grid view auto-loads attachments on scroll out of the box. This applies to both the Grid view of the Media Library, and the Media Modal.
2. Users can opt out individually. A new Infinite Scrolling personal option appears on the profile screen (Users > Profile), with a checkbox labeled “Disable infinite scrolling in the Media Library grid view” (unchecked by default). The option is only shown to users who have the upload_files capabilitycapability A capability is permission to perform one or more types of task. Checking if a user has a capability is performed by the current_user_can function. Each user of a WordPress site might have some permissions but not others, depending on their role. For example, users who have the Author role usually have permission to edit their own posts (the “edit_posts” capability), but not permission to edit other users’ posts (the “edit_others_posts” capability)., since the attachment grid is unreachable without it.

Precedence

The effective setting is resolved in this order, from highest priority to lowest:

1. The media_library_infinite_scrolling filter: a hooked filter callback always wins.
2. The user’s opt-out preference: applies when no filter is hooked.
3. The default (true): applies when neither of the above is set.

In other words: filter > user preference > default.

Developer-facing details

The filter’s default changed

If your plugin or theme relies on the previous behavior (infinite scrolling off unless explicitly enabled), be aware that the default is now true. To force the previous behavior for all users regardless of their preference, you can use the filter, as it takes precedence over everything:

// Force infinite scrolling OFF for all users (restores to the behavior that was default between 5.8 and 7.1).

add_filter( 'media_library_infinite_scrolling', '__return_false' );

// Force infinite scrolling ON for all users, ignoring per-user opt-out.

add_filter( 'media_library_infinite_scrolling', '__return_true' );

Because the filter runs after the per-user preference is read, adding a callback overrides any individual user’s choice.

The new user option

The preference is stored as a user option under the metaMeta Meta is a term that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress. key infinite_scrolling, as the string 'true' or 'false', consistent with how existing options such as syntax_highlighting and rich_editing are persisted. It is also wired consistently through the profile form (user-edit.php), the save handler (edit_user()), and persistence in wp_insert_user() and _get_additional_user_keys().

You can read a user’s preference programmatically:

// The user setting is 'false' if the user has disabled infinite scrolling, 'true' (or empty) otherwise.

$infinite_scrolling_disabled = 'false' === get_user_option( 'infinite_scrolling', $user_id );

Note the direction of the stored value: 'false' means the user has disabled infinite scrolling. wp_enqueue_media() reads this option to determine the pre-filter default.

Backwards compatibility

• The media_library_infinite_scrolling filter is unchanged in signature; only its default value changed (from false to true). Existing callbacks continue to work exactly as before and still take precedence.
• Sites that had already opted in via __return_true see no change.
• Sites that never touched the filter now get infinite scrolling by default; users who prefer the Load more button can opt out from their profile.

Props to @youknowriad, @khokansardar, @wildworks, @davidbaumwald, @joedolson, @sabernhardt for reviewing.

#7-1, #dev-notes, #dev-notes-7-1, #media, #media-library, #media-grid