Wikipedia:Moving files to Commons

Moving files to Commons is an activity of moving freely licensed files from Wikipedia to the Wikimedia Commons, which serves as the central file repository for all Wikimedia Foundation projects. When our local files are transferred there, they will provide the added benefit of becoming instantly and globally available across all Wikimedia Foundation projects.

Why move files to Commons?

• Commons files may be used by any Wikimedia Foundation project, such as Wikipedia, Wikinews, or Wiktionary. Some projects, such as the Simple English Wikipedia, exclusively use files hosted on Commons. A file uploaded to Commons only has to be uploaded and maintained once, as opposed to dozens of times for each individual Wiki.
• Commons extensively categorizes files, making it easy to find them across a wide variety of topics.
• Commons files are maintained even if they are not immediately used to illustrate articles. Wikipedia, by contrast, is not a file host and therefore does not permit unused files.

Should a file be moved to Commons?

A simple flowchart to help determine whether a file should be moved to Commons

What not to transfer

Files that should not be moved to Commons

Do not Transfer	Because	Action to Take?
N Non-free content	Commons does not accept non-free content.
N Derivatives of non-free content	Commons does not accept non-free content.
N Photographs of 2D/3D works taken in countries where there is no freedom of panorama.	Commons does not accept non-free content.
N Non-Public domain works exceeding the threshold of originality in their home country.	Commons does not accept non-free content.
N Files lacking a clear and verifiable source.	Files must be clearly sourced so that their copyright status may be verified by anybody.	Tag these with {{subst:Nsd}}
N Files lacking adequate evidence of permission.	Files created by a third party and uploaded to Wikipedia under a free license must include a permission statement (e.g. link to online permission statement, VRT permission) so that it can be verified that said party has actually agreed to such publication.	Tag these with {{subst:Npd}}
N Files without a license tag.	License tags describe the copyright status of a file.	Tag these with {{subst:Nld}}
N Files with a free license restricting derivatives/commercial use, or restricting usage to Wikipedia only.	Freely licensed files uploaded to Wikipedia and Commons must allow derivatives/commercial use, and usage outside Wikipedia.	Tag these with {{Db-f3}}
N Files with dubious Own work claims. (e.g. Claiming an image of Pikachu as own work)	These are probably copyright violations.	List at FfD and/or tag egregious cases with {{Db-f9}}
N Files which are Public domain in their country of origin, but still copyrighted in the USA.	Commons requires that files be free in both their country of origin and the USA. Note that the English Wikipedia does not have such a restriction for uploaded PD files.
N Files which are Public domain in the USA but still copyrighted in their country of origin.	Commons requires that files be free in both their country of origin and the USA.

Tools

Main article: Commons:Commons:Upload tools § Transfer tools

There are several software tools available to assist in moving files from the various Wikipedias into commons. Tools that are "web apps" can be run without first being downloaded to your computer.

FileImporter, from our own Wikimedia, is the default and preferred tool.

Tools for moving files to Commons

Name	Status	Create wikitext	Can upload	Import history	OAuth	Platform	Coded in	Where to get	Author or maintainer
FileImporter	Active	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Web app	PHP	The "Export to Wikimedia Commons" tab on the file description page	Wikimedia Deutschland
Fileinfo	Active	Yes	No	No	—	Web app	PHP	toollabs:magog/fileinfo.php	Magog the Ogre (talk · contribs)
mtc-cli	Active	Yes	Yes	No	No	CPython (Windows, macOS, Linux)	Python	fastily/mtc-cli	Fastily (talk · contribs)
For the Common Good	Unclear	Yes	Yes	No	No	.NET Framework 2.0 or Mono (Windows, macOS, Linux)	C#	atlight.github.io	This, that and the other (talk · contribs)
CommonsHelper	Abandoned	Poorly	Yes	No	Yes	Web app	PHP	toollabs:commonshelper	Magnus Manske (talk · contribs)
imagecopy.py	Abandoned	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	CPython (Windows, macOS, Linux)	Python	Phabricator	Multichill (talk · contribs)
MTC!	Abandoned	Yes	Yes	No	No	Java SE (Windows, macOS, Linux)	Java	WP:MTC!	Fastily (talk · contribs)

Only FileImporter can preserve the full page history. MTC! has some additional automation features and admin-only options.

Manual transfer

Save the file to transfer onto your computer and upload it at Commons. Include the following information on the file's Commons description page:

• The contents of the local {{Information}} template —  Note: Fileinfo generates the upload information text to transfer manually.
• The license tag —  Note: some templates used locally exist with another name on Commons. For example, {{PD-old}} is {{PD-old-100}} on Commons, and {{PD-old}} on Commons is {{PD-old-70}} on Wikipedia.
• A copy of the local upload log — You must state the username of each uploader and the date/time at which the upload was performed. This is a strict requirement for the GFDL and Creative Commons licenses. You are not required to upload previous versions of the file, or mention reverted vandalism/file usurpations.

Once you are finished, please tag Wikipedia's copy of the file with {{subst:Ncd}} or {{subst:Ncd|File:New filename.png}} (if you chose a new name for the Commons file).

Backlog status

98% complete Backlog: Copy to Wikimedia Commons Goal: 0 files Current: 405 files Initial: 19,895 files

See also

• Category:Copy to Wikimedia Commons
• Commons:For Wikipedians