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Getting started

Install the app, connect Google Drive or Dropbox and run your first safe test upload in about ten minutes.

Smart Bulk Image Upload reads the file name of each image in a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, compares it with an identifier on your product variants (SKU, barcode, product title, metafield value or variant ID) and attaches the image to whatever it matches.

Two phases: match, then upload

Every run has two separate phases. Knowing the difference is what makes the app safe to experiment with.

PhaseWhat happensWrites to Shopify?
MatchThe app lists the images in your folder, loads your product catalog and pairs them up. You get a preview of every match and every non-match.No. Read-only, so run it as often as you like.
UploadA background job downloads each matched image and uploads it to the right product and variant.Yes

Nothing is written to your store until you press Start upload on the preview page.

Step 1: Install and connect your image source

  1. Install the app from the Shopify App Store.
  2. Go to Settings → Image source and choose Google Drive or Dropbox. Save.
  3. Open Create upload and press Connect. Approve read access to your account.

The app only ever reads from your cloud storage. It never renames, moves or deletes your files.

Google Drive vs Dropbox. Google Drive lists only image files, and the preview shows thumbnails and megapixels. Dropbox lists every file in the folder, so keep it clean of stray .csv or .pdf files.

Step 2: Prepare a small test folder

Create a folder with 10–20 images named after your SKUs, for example:

AB-1234.jpg        → first image of SKU AB-1234
AB-1234_1.jpg      → second image
AB-1234_2.jpg      → third image
CD-5678.jpg        → first image of SKU CD-5678

Only the selected folder is read; sub-folders are not scanned unless we switch that on for your store. See How to name your files for every rule.

Step 3: Match

On Create upload:

  1. Select the folder from the suggestion list (use the refresh button if you just created it). The app shows how many images it found.
  2. Select the matching type: start with Match by exact SKU. See Matching options.
  3. Choose the replacement option: use Don’t replace existing images for your first test.
  4. Press Start matching.

Step 4: Review and upload

You land on the Matching results page. Check the matched images, their positions and alt text, and the list of non-matched images. When it looks right, press Start upload and follow the job live. You will get an email with the full log when it finishes.

Read Review the preview and upload for everything you can do on that page.

SettingRecommendation
Matching typeMatch by exact SKU (or exact barcode)
Replace existing imagesDon’t replace existing images
Don’t delete replaced images from FilesOn, if you test replacing
FolderA small folder with 10–20 images
ProductsA few test products: one with a single variant and one with several

The free plan includes 25 uploaded images in total, which is enough for a full test. Matching is always free and unlimited.