Title: Decrease amount of files
Last modified: June 30, 2023

---

# Decrease amount of files

 *  [supervinnie41](https://wordpress.org/support/users/supervinnie41/)
 * (@supervinnie41)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/decrease-amount-of-files/)
 * Hi there,
 * I use Loco Translate a lot and its been a great plugin for me ever since. The
   only thing I would like to know, is: how do I decrease the amount of files?
 * For every translation a lot of files are created, and even though I only have
   translated about 20 plugins/themes, I have a folder with over 200 files in it.
 * Seeing as my host works with inodes-limits, I am constanly cleaning up the files.
   It would be a help if I could decrease the amount of files the plugin creates.
   Is this even possible?

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Tim W](https://wordpress.org/support/users/timwhitlock/)
 * (@timwhitlock)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/decrease-amount-of-files/#post-16864799)
 * I need more specifics to discuss this…
 * What kind of files are these, and what makes you sure they are not required?
 *  Thread Starter [supervinnie41](https://wordpress.org/support/users/supervinnie41/)
 * (@supervinnie41)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/decrease-amount-of-files/#post-16866537)
 * Hi Tim,
 * I’m not sure of I really need them all. I was kinda hoping you could explain 
   this to me.
 * More info:
 * I have a folder wp-content/languages/loco/plugins which contains many *.mo and*.
   po (and even *.po~) files. I understand that is correct, depending on the settings
   when creating a translation. But there are also files from plugins I never ever
   translated. Some I haven’t even opened in the Loco Translate plugin dashboard.
 * If I need to explain more, tell me what info you need. I am not experienced enough
   to determine what info might be usefull or not.
 * Vinnie.
 *  Plugin Author [Tim W](https://wordpress.org/support/users/timwhitlock/)
 * (@timwhitlock)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/decrease-amount-of-files/#post-16866729)
 * The `*.po~` files are Loco Translate’s backup files. You can reduce the number
   of revisions that are stored in the [settings (Number of backups to keep of each file)](https://localise.biz/wordpress/plugin/manual/settings#po).
   I note that the default is 5, not 1 as per this link. I will update that page.
 * >  But there are also files from plugins I never ever translated. Some I haven’t
   > even opened in the Loco Translate plugin dashboard.
 * If you’ve not edited translations of these plugins in the Loco Translate editor,
   then it hasn’t generated them. Probably these files are installed by WordPress.
 * You may find you get a LOT of `.json` files. This is a symptom of WordPress’s
   [bizarre JavaScript translation system](https://localise.biz/wordpress/plugin/manual/json).
   Loco Translate tries to tidy these files up ([Settings > Compiling JSON files > Delete redundant files](https://localise.biz/wordpress/plugin/manual/settings#json)),
   but if it hasn’t generated them, it won’t touch them. If you have a problem with
   a plugin that has hundreds of JSONs and you suspect they can’t all be required
   then I suggest you raise the issue with either the [translation team](https://translate.wordpress.org/)
   or the plugin developer.
 * My advice would be to avoid deleting files you don’t understand, or that you 
   can’t be certain are redundant. I’ve never experienced a limit on inodes, but
   if you have to delete them then I guess you have no choice. I can’t however advise
   on what files you need and what files you don’t, unless you want to discuss specific
   files that my plugin has created.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Decrease amount of files’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/loco-translate/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=1000676)
 * [Loco Translate](https://wordpress.org/plugins/loco-translate/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/loco-translate/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/loco-translate/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/loco-translate/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/loco-translate/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/loco-translate/reviews/)

 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Tim W](https://wordpress.org/support/users/timwhitlock/)
 * Last activity: [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/decrease-amount-of-files/#post-16866729)
 * Status: not resolved