AEM Dynamic Media generates duplicate or suffixed asset URLs
Dynamic Media can generate duplicate or suffixed asset URLs when multiple assets share the same filename or when overwrite settings don’t match the intended publishing behavior. Because Dynamic Media uses a globally unique asset identifier rather than the AEM folder path, assets with matching names can overwrite one another or be renamed with numeric suffixes such as -1 or -2. The issue is resolved by identifying duplicate filenames, reviewing overwrite settings, cleaning up stale duplicates, and reprocessing the affected asset. Stable naming and correct overwrite settings restore predictable asset URLs.
Description description
Environment:
- AEM Dynamic Media
- Adobe Experience Manager as a Cloud Service
- AEM Managed Services
- Dynamic Media Classic upload and publish workflows
Issue/Symptoms:
- Dynamic Media URLs show unexpected numeric suffixes such as
-1or-2. - Two assets stored in different AEM folders resolve to the same Dynamic Media URL.
- An asset appears to overwrite another asset that has the same filename.
- Sets or renditions include both old and new assets because of filename conflicts.
- AEM shows one asset, while Dynamic Media shows multiple versions with the same base filename.
- Search AEM Assets globally for the filename to confirm whether duplicate filenames exist in different folders.
- Search Dynamic Media Classic for the base filename without the extension to confirm whether duplicate or stale variants already exist.
- Review the overwrite setting in Dynamic Media Classic to confirm whether same-named assets should overwrite or be kept as duplicates.
Root cause:
Dynamic Media doesn’t the AEM folder hierarchy as part of the published asset identifier. Instead, it requires a globally unique asset name. When two assets share the same filename, Dynamic Media either overwrites the existing asset or creates a duplicate with a numeric suffix, depending on the active overwrite setting. Stale unpublished duplicates can also contribute to the same behavior.
Resolution resolution
Try the following steps to solve the issue:
- Search AEM Assets for the filename and identify any duplicate filenames across folders.
- Search Dynamic Media Classic for the base filename and check whether duplicate or stale variants already exist.
- Review the overwrite setting in Dynamic Media Classic and make sure it matches the intended behavior for same-named assets.
- If same-named assets should replace one another, update the overwrite setting accordingly.
- If the assets must remain distinct, rename one of the assets so each published asset has a unique filename.
- Remove or archive stale duplicate assets in Dynamic Media when they are no longer needed.
- Reprocess or republish the corrected asset from AEM.
- If an old image still appears after the asset is corrected, refresh cached content and verify the updated URL again.
If duplicate or incorrect URLs continue after duplicate filenames are removed, overwrite settings are corrected, the asset is reprocessed or republished, and cached content is refreshed, submit a ticket to Adobe Support.