Settings Reference

Every option MediaVerse and MediaVerse Pro register, with its option key, type and default.

The other pages in this section explain settings in the order you meet them in the admin screens. This page is the complete index: use it when you need to set an option in code, seed a site with WP-CLI, or check what a value defaults to before you change it.

Option keys are stored as normal WordPress options, so anything here can be read or written with get_option() / update_option() or the WP-CLI equivalents:

wp option get mvs_default_privacy
wp option update mvs_items_per_page 24

Defaults apply only when the option row is absent. Saving a settings screen writes every field shown on that screen, including the ones you did not touch. It never changes a setting that is hidden or has no screen control. After the first save an option holds a real stored value, and changing the default in a later release will not move it.

Free options

Registered by Admin\Settings\SettingsRegistrar, GeneralSettingsRegistrar, DisplaySettingsRegistrar, AiSettingsRegistrar and AppSettingsRegistrar.

Rows marked “no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)” are still registered and still work. They were taken off the screen because almost every site wants the default.

Uploads and storage

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_storage_limit_mb	Fair-use storage limit per member (MB)	integer	0 (no limit). Per-member override: user meta mvs_storage_limit_mb (absent = site limit, 0 = no limit). Filter: mvs_storage_limit_bytes
mvs_max_upload_size	Max Upload Size	integer	104857600 (100 MB, in bytes)
mvs_allowed_file_types	Allowed File Types	string	image/jpeg,image/png,image/gif,image/webp,video/mp4,video/webm,audio/mpeg,audio/ogg
mvs_duplicate_action	Duplicate Detection	string	warn
mvs_strip_exif	Remove location from photos	boolean	true
mvs_delete_data_on_uninstall	Remove Data on Delete	boolean	false
mvs_storage_driver	Where files are stored (Storage tab)	string	local
mvs_optimize_originals	Compress uploaded images (Storage tab)	boolean	false
mvs_signed_url_ttl	Signed URL Expiry (seconds) - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	integer	3600
mvs_view_retention_days	View Event Retention (days) - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	integer	90
mvs_filename_strategy	Stored Filenames - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	string	hashed
mvs_generate_webp	Create WebP copies - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	boolean	true
mvs_generate_avif	Create AVIF copies - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	boolean	false
mvs_cloud_direct_public_urls	(no settings field; inert since 1.4.0 - public cloud media is served directly automatically, this value is ignored)	boolean	false

Duplicate detection checks only the member’s own uploads; a file another member uploaded is not a duplicate. mvs_duplicate_action accepts warn (allow the upload and warn), skip (shown as “Block the upload”) or allow (skip the hash check entirely). mvs_strip_exif removes only the GPS location from new uploads; camera details and photo credits stay, and files already stored are not rewritten.

mvs_storage_driver accepts local, s3, bunnycdn, r2 or dospaces. Cloud drivers need MediaVerse Pro.

Privacy and permissions

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_default_privacy	Default Privacy Level	string	public (members on a private community)
mvs_members_only	Members Only	boolean	false
mvs_allow_user_privacy	Allow Users to Set Privacy	boolean	true
mvs_upload_roles	Who can upload media	array	(empty array)
mvs_allow_downloads	Allow Downloads (Display tab)	boolean	true

mvs_default_privacy is the level applied when the uploader makes no choice. A fresh install on a private community (one that answers mvs_rest_require_auth with true, such as BuddyNext’s private mode) starts at members, because public files can be opened by anyone holding the file address. A site that becomes private later keeps its saved value, and administrators see a one-time notice on MediaVerse screens offering to switch to Members Only. mvs_members_only sends visitors who are not logged in to the login page and makes the API refuse them. When a community plugin answers mvs_rest_require_auth, its answer wins and the screen shows it instead of a switch. When mvs_allow_user_privacy is off, the privacy select is removed from the upload form and every upload takes the default.

mvs_upload_roles is only the transport for the “Who can upload media” checkboxes. The real state is the upload_mvs_media capability on each role: saving the field adds or removes that capability, and the field reads the roles back. Administrators can always upload. Reading this option does not tell you who can upload; check the roles instead.

Mobile App

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_app_password_login	App Login	boolean	true
mvs_terms_url	Terms of Service URL	string	(empty)
mvs_abuse_contact_email	Abuse Contact Email	string	(empty - uses the site admin email)
mvs_eula_url	EULA URL - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	string	(empty - standard Apple licence)

All four are on the Mobile App tab since 2.6.0. App Sign-In moved there from General, and the Terms of Service URL and Abuse Contact Email moved from Moderation.

mvs_app_password_login controls whether members may exchange their WordPress password for an Application Password to sign in to a mobile app. Turn it off when you require everyone through the interactive login - for example when you enforce two-factor authentication. Also filterable at runtime via mvs_app_password_login_enabled.

Display

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_layout_choice	Layout	string	original
mvs_thumbnail_style	Layout (Free choices)	string	original
mvs_grid_columns	Grid Columns	integer	3
mvs_items_per_page	Items Per Page	integer	12
mvs_thumbnail_size	Thumbnail Quality - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	string	large
mvs_large_image_size	Large Image Size - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	integer	1024
mvs_lightbox_image_source	Lightbox Image Size - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	string	large

mvs_layout_choice is only the transport for the one Layout select. A Free choice (square, original, list) is written to mvs_thumbnail_style and puts the Pro feed back on grid. A Pro skin is written to mvs_pro_feed_layout. To set the layout in code, write mvs_thumbnail_style (and mvs_pro_feed_layout with Pro). The default of original can be changed with the mvs_default_thumbnail_style filter.

mvs_large_image_size is the long-edge pixel width of the generated large variant. mvs_lightbox_image_source chooses which file the lightbox opens: the large variant (default, faster on phones) or original for full quality.

Messages

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_messaging_enabled	Messages (turn on private messages)	boolean	true
mvs_dm_access	Who can send messages	string	everyone
mvs_dm_min_age	Minimum Account Age (days)	integer	0
mvs_chat_panel_visibility	Chat Panel Visibility	string	everywhere
mvs_show_online_status	Online Status Visibility	string	everyone
mvs_comment_edit_window	(no settings field - filterable)	integer	900 (15 minutes)

mvs_dm_access accepts everyone, followers, mutual or nobody (shown as “Nobody (no new messages; existing conversations stay readable)”; to switch messaging off entirely, untick mvs_messaging_enabled). This is the only place the word “followers” appears as a setting value - it controls who may open a conversation with a member, and has nothing to do with media privacy.

mvs_comment_edit_window is the number of seconds after posting during which a member may still edit their own comment.

Moderation and reporting

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_guidelines_url	Community Guidelines URL	string	(empty)
mvs_enable_reports	Member Reporting	boolean	true
mvs_report_auto_hide_threshold	Auto-Hide Threshold	integer	3
mvs_ai_auto_moderate	AI Moderation	boolean	false
mvs_moderation_auto_action	When AI Flags Content	string	flag
mvs_ai_moderation_categories	AI Flag Criteria	array	nudity, violence, hate, self-harm, drugs, spam
mvs_ai_moderation_custom_terms	Custom Flag Terms	string	(empty)

mvs_report_auto_hide_threshold is the number of distinct reports after which a media item is hidden automatically pending review. mvs_moderation_auto_action accepts flag (hide until reviewed), reject or delete. The last three rows show only while AI Moderation is on.

mvs_ai_moderation_categories falls back to the full category list when stored empty, so an empty value never silently disables flagging.

AI

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_ai_provider	AI Provider	string	openai
mvs_openai_api_key	OpenAI API Key	string	(empty)
mvs_openai_model	OpenAI Model - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	string	gpt-4o-mini
mvs_ai_auto_analyze	Auto-Analyze Uploads	boolean	false
mvs_ai_auto_describe	Generate Descriptions	boolean	true
mvs_ai_auto_tag	Generate Tags	boolean	true
mvs_ai_auto_apply_tags	Auto-Apply Tags	boolean	false
mvs_ai_monthly_budget	Monthly AI Budget ($)	number	10
mvs_ai_cost_per_call	(no settings field - filterable)	number	0.01

Note the pairing: mvs_ai_auto_tag decides whether tags are generated, and mvs_ai_auto_apply_tags decides whether they are attached to the media item automatically rather than suggested for review. Generating without applying is the safe starting configuration.

mvs_ai_monthly_budget combined with mvs_ai_cost_per_call drives the spend estimate and the budget cutoff. 0 means no limit.

Emails

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_email_battle_invite	Photo battle invites	boolean	false (a new install turns it on)
mvs_email_document_shared	Documents shared with a member	boolean	false (a new install turns it on)
mvs_email_report_outcome	Report reviewed	boolean	false (a new install turns it on)
mvs_email_new_follower	New follower	boolean	false (a new install turns it on)
mvs_email_media_comment	Comment on their media	boolean	false (a new install turns it on)

Pages

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_page_dashboard	My Media page	integer	0
mvs_page_explore	Explore Page	integer	0
mvs_page_upload	Upload Page	integer	0
mvs_page_explore_documents	Explore Documents Page	integer	0

Webhooks

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_webhooks	Webhook Configuration	array	(empty array)

See Webhooks for the payload format and the event list.

Pro options

Registered by Admin\ProSettings and Admin\GamificationSettings. All Pro options are inert unless MediaVerse Pro is active.

Feature toggles

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_competitions_enabled	Competitions (Competitions tab; master switch for the four types below)	string	0
mvs_stories_enabled	Stories (Display tab)	string	0
mvs_connectors_enabled	Turn on Flickr import (Flickr import tab)	string	0
mvs_streaks_enabled	Enable Streaks	string	0
mvs_watermark_enabled	Enable Watermark (Storage tab)	boolean	false
mvs_autopilot_enabled	Enable Autopilot	string	0

Toggles stored as strings compare against '1'. When a feature is off its service is never constructed, so its REST routes are not registered and its scheduled actions do not run - which is why a disabled feature’s endpoints return 404 rather than 403.

The gamification toggles mvs_battles_enabled, mvs_challenges_enabled, mvs_tournaments_enabled and mvs_boosts_enabled follow the same pattern and are covered in Gamification.

AI providers

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_pro_google_vision_key	Google Cloud API Key	string	(empty)
mvs_pro_anthropic_key	Anthropic API Key	string	(empty)
mvs_pro_anthropic_model	Claude Model - no screen control since 2.6.0 (set in code/WP-CLI)	string	claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

Only the key card for the selected AI provider is shown.

Gamification

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_pro_battle_win_xp	Battle win reward (points)	integer	100
mvs_pro_boost_cost_per_100	Points per 100 Impressions	integer	50
mvs_pro_boost_max_impressions	Max Impressions per Boost	integer	5000
mvs_pro_boost_expiry_days	Boost Expiry (Days)	integer	7
mvs_streak_freezes_enabled	Allow Streak Freezes	string	0
mvs_pro_streak_freeze_cost	Freeze Cost (Points)	integer	100

On the Competitions tab each competition type row shows only while Competitions is on. Boost pricing shows only while Media Boosts is on, Allow Streak Freezes only while Streaks is on, and Freeze Cost only while freezes are on. The key mvs_pro_battle_win_xp keeps its old name; the value is points.

Challenge autopilot

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_autopilot_day	Day of Week	string	monday
mvs_autopilot_hour	Time	integer	9
mvs_autopilot_entry_days	Entry Period (Days)	integer	7
mvs_autopilot_voting_days	Voting Period (Days)	integer	3
mvs_autopilot_max_entries	Max Entries per User	integer	1

Autopilot creates the next themed challenge from Challenge Themes on the configured day and hour. mvs_autopilot_entry_days and mvs_autopilot_voting_days set the length of each phase, so a challenge’s full cycle is the sum of the two. Weekly Autopilot shows only while Photo Challenges is on, and these rows only while Enable Autopilot is on. The autopilot points awards sit under Points rewards: mvs_autopilot_xp_1st (200), mvs_autopilot_xp_2nd (100), mvs_autopilot_xp_3rd (50) and mvs_autopilot_xp_participation (10, everyone who entered).

Flickr import and layout

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_pro_connector_flickr_app_key	Flickr Plugin API Key	string	(empty)
mvs_pro_connector_flickr_app_secret	Flickr Plugin API Secret	string	(empty)
mvs_pro_feed_layout	Layout (Pro skins, Display tab)	string	grid

The Flickr key, secret and cards show only while Turn on Flickr import is ticked. mvs_pro_feed_layout has no control of its own since 2.6.0: picking a Pro skin (instagram, pinterest, flickr, dribbble) in the one Display > Layout select writes it, and picking a Free layout sets it back to grid.

Mobile App Branding

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_app_accent_color	Accent Color	string	(empty - the app’s own colour)
mvs_app_logo_id	App Logo	integer	0
mvs_app_login_bg_id	Login Background	integer	0
mvs_app_dark_mode_default	Default to Dark Mode	boolean	false

On the Mobile App tab since 2.6.0 (moved from Display).

Image watermarking

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_watermark_apply	Apply to	string	all
mvs_watermark_roles	Watermark uploads from	array	(empty array)
mvs_watermark_type	Watermark Type	string	text
mvs_watermark_text	Watermark Text	string	(site name)
mvs_watermark_image_id	Watermark Image	integer	0
mvs_watermark_position	Position	string	bottom-right
mvs_watermark_opacity	Opacity (%)	integer	40
mvs_watermark_font_size	Text Size	integer	24
mvs_watermark_color	Text Color	string	#ffffff

On the Storage tab since 2.6.0 (moved from Display). These rows show only while Enable Watermark is ticked.

Other

Option key	Setting label	Type	Default
mvs_pro_settings	(container option)	array	(empty array)

mvs_pro_settings is a single array option holding assorted Pro values that have no dedicated key, such as the auto-captions switch (captions_auto). Read it with get_option( 'mvs_pro_settings', array() ) rather than assuming a shape.

Documents settings (Enable Documents, Who can use documents, Maximum document size, Allowed file types, New documents start as, Share links that work without signing in, Search inside documents) are on the Documents tab. Every row except Enable Documents shows only while it is on. The orphaned document files tool moved to MediaVerse > Documents in 2.6.0.

Storing credentials in wp-config.php

API keys and cloud credentials can be defined as constants instead of being stored in the database. When a constant is defined, the matching settings field renders locked and shows “Defined in wp-config.php”, and the stored option is ignored.

This keeps secrets out of database dumps and out of staging copies. See Cloud Storage for the Cloudflare R2, S3 and DigitalOcean Spaces constant names.

Related

• General Settings - the General tab, explained in context
• Display Settings
• Permissions
• AI & Moderation
• Messages Settings
• Webhooks
• Hooks & Filters Reference - filters that override these values at runtime