A low WordPress upload size limit stops you from uploading large files, plugins, and themes. If y'all're building a media-heavy website, that can be a considerable obstacle. It'southward necessary to increase the max upload size in WordPress or your server (or both) in such cases.

Depending on your hosting provider and server, there are many ways to become about solving this event. Nosotros'll cover them all in this article and show you how to increment the maximum upload size in WordPress speedily.

Allow's dive in!

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What Is the Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?

Uploading big files to a server consumes a lot of the server'southward resources. To prevent users from causing server timeouts, the default maximum upload size in WordPress typically ranges from 4 MB to 128 MB. Ordinarily, the hosting provider sets this limit at the server level.

WordPress also includes constants that define this limit, simply they cannot override the server-level settings in most cases.

To verify this, become to your WordPress site'south Media Library. Here, try to upload a file that crosses this maximum upload file size limit. You'll see an error message that looks something like this:

Error while uploading a large file in WordPress
Fault while uploading a large file in WordPress

The "exceeds the maximum upload size for this site" error tin be frustrating, but information technology exists for two chief reasons: security and efficiency. It hinders site owners and other users, including malicious actors, from uploading huge files (east.k. loftier-resolution images, big videos).

Otherwise, it tin can event in incapacitating your website's server, making your site come up to a crawl. Or worse, it can bring your site down altogether!

Desire to upload a large file, plugin, or theme... but express past the max upload size?🗂 Learn how to resolve this common issue quickly & easily correct here ⬇️ Click to Tweet

How to Check the Current Maximum Upload Size in WordPress

There are many ways to cheque your WordPress site'southward current max upload size. Let'southward go through all of them.

In the Media Library

The quickest manner to bank check your site'southward current maximum upload size is to go to your WordPress dashboard, and from there, go to Media > Library. Here, click on the Add New button to activate the media uploader tool.

The "Maximum upload size limit" in WordPress
The "Maximum upload size limit" in WordPress

As Kinsta hosts this site, the Maximum upload file size: 128 MB. message displays below the Select Files push button. If you're using a different web hosting provider, you may see a different limit listed here.

You lot can also go to Media > Add together New directly and come across the same message displayed at the bottom.

The
The "Maximum upload file size" in WordPress' Media Library

Over again, you lot can see the 128 MB max upload file size here.

In the Site Health Info

WordPress 5.2 added the Site Health Info tool to help you debug your WordPress site better. Hither, you can find almost all the information about your server and WordPress configuration.

Equally both the server and WordPress handle the max upload file size, in that location are ii means to detect its value on this screen.

First, you can find it listed nether the Media Handling dropdown. Here, wait for the value of Max size of an uploaded file constant.

'Media Handling' settings in the 'Site Health Info' panel
'Media Treatment' settings in the 'Site Health Info' panel

The second method is to look under the Server dropdown. You'll find many options related to your webserver's setup under hither. Please search for the value for Upload max filesize constant to encounter what it is. On this site, the max upload file size limit is 128 MB.

'Server' settings in the 'Site Health Info' panel
'Server' settings in the 'Site Wellness Info' panel

You can likewise see other PHP constants and their values, such equally:

  • PHP post max size: Defines the maximum upload limit for Mail service requests.
  • PHP retention limit: Defines the retention allocated for PHP. It should exist fix equal to or higher than the Upload max filesize limit. Or else the upload will fail.

Your web host sets these options. Usually, starter hosting plans volition have a lesser upload size limit than enterprise hosting plans. Some hosts may allow y'all to override these limits. But in most cases, you lot may demand your hosting provider's assistance (and perhaps a plan upgrade) to increase them.

Why Increment the Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress?

There are many reasons why you may need to increase your WordPress site'due south maximum upload file size. Here are the most mutual ones:

  • You desire to install a big theme or plugin directly through the WordPress admin dashboard.
  • Updating your WordPress site regularly is a peachy way to keep your readers engaged and return for more. And that includes uploading new images, videos, audios, and other media regularly. However, that's not always feasible when there's a file size limit for your uploads.
  • Y'all desire to upload a large video or prototype as your site'south groundwork or header.
  • You program to sell digital files such as ebooks, photographs, videos, themes, and plugins direct from your site. Sometimes, these files can sew together to hundreds of megabytes (or more).

Now that we've covered the basics of max upload file size in WordPress, let'southward learn how to increase it.

x Ways to Increase the Max Upload File Size in WordPress

At that place are many ways you tin can fix the WordPress maximum upload size effect. Nosotros'll first with the easiest ones start, and and so we'll move on to the intermediate-level tutorials.

Contact Your Hosting Provider for Aid

If you lot're facing issues with uploading files and file size limits, reaching out to your hosting provider for help is ane of the quickest solutions. Increasing the upload limit is a petty task for tech support, so near hosting companies can aid you set this upshot quickly.

Tinkering with your server or site configuration files can always exist a challenge. Hence, nosotros ever recommend you try this method start.

If you lot're hosting your site with Kinsta, our knowledgeable back up team is just a click away and bachelor 24/vii. To get started, go to your MyKinsta dashboard and click the conversation icon in the bottom right corner.

Contact Kinsta support easily through MyKinsta
Contact Kinsta support easily through MyKinsta

Nosotros have representatives to assist you in many languages, including English, Castilian, French, German language, Italian, and Portuguese.

Increase the Max Upload File Size in WordPress Multisite

If you're running a WordPress Multisite network, then you tin modify the max upload file size for your network.

Showtime, head to your Network Admin dashboard, and and so become to Settings > Network Settings screen. Here, scroll down till y'all discover the Upload Settings section. You'll find the Max upload file size field in this area.

The 'Max upload file size' in 'Network Settings'
The 'Max upload file size' field in 'Network Settings'

The default value of Max upload file size in a WordPress Multisite is 1500 KB (~1.v MB). You tin can change this to a higher value and click the Save Changes button.

Annotation: You cannot circumvent the server-level max upload size limit from here. If the limit you set here is higher than the server's max upload size limit, the server volition ignore information technology. You can apply the methods described in a higher place to discover your webserver'south configuration.

The new 'Max upload file size' field in 'Network Settings'
The new 'Max upload file size' in 'Network Settings'

Here, we've set the new max upload file size to 131072 KB (~128 MB).

You tin can also limit the total size of files uploaded to an individual site in the Multisite network. However, it's disabled by default.

Update Your '.htaccess' File

If your webserver runs on Apache, you can update your site'south .htaccess file to increase the max upload size in WordPress. You lot can observe your .htaccess file in the WordPress site'southward root directory.

As per PHP documentation, 3 PHP directives are responsible for how WordPress handles uploads. They are:

  • upload_max_filesize
  • post_max_size
  • memory_limit

Nosotros've already discussed them in the Site Health Info section above. It would assist if y'all modified these iii directives' values to acknowledge your file sizes. For example, if the largest file yous're planning to upload is 32 MB, we recommend the following settings:

  • upload_max_filesize = 32M
  • post_max_size = 64M
  • memory_limit = 128M

Find, all the values apply Chiliad instead of MB. That's how PHP handles its directives.

Uploads can contain actress information in addition to the file itself. So, giving all other upload-related directives some breathing space is a practiced idea. You can read our in-depth tutorial on how to improve PHP retention limit in WordPress for more data.

Admission your .htaccess file via FTP/SFTP or your hosting provider's File Managing director.

Finding the '.htaccess' file
Finding the '.htaccess' file

Open the.htaccess file with a text editor or code editor, and then add the following code:

          php_value upload_max_filesize 32M php_value post_max_size 64M php_value memory_limit 128M php_value max_execution_time 300 php_value max_input_time 300        

You can notice two other PHP directives in the above code: max_execution_time and max_input_time . They ascertain how long a server spends on a single PHP task. The bigger your uploads, the bigger the fourth dimension spent volition exist. You need to ready their values to a number that'southward advisable for your use instance.

Annotation: Y'all may become a 500 Internal Server Error after using the method in a higher place. Virtually likely, it's because your server is running PHP in CGI mode. In such cases, y'all cannot use the above commands in your .htaccess file.

Create or Alter the 'php.ini' File

The php.ini file is where yous define changes to your default PHP settings. Typically, it contains directives that define file timeouts, max upload size, and resource limits.

Using SSH or FTP, you can observe the php.ini file in your WordPress root directory. In some cases, you may not locate it there. Fret non! Y'all can create a new file with the aforementioned proper name in your site'southward root directory.

How to create a new php.ini file
How to create a new php.ini file

With a code or text editor, add the following code to your existing or new php.ini file:

          upload_max_filesize = 32M post_max_size = 64M memory_limit = 128M        

Don't forget to save your file after making the changes. Some hosts don't allow you to modify PHP settings via this method. In such a case, you can proceed to try the following solution instead.

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Create or Modify the '.user.ini' File

If your hosting provider has locked down the global PHP settings, they may have configured the server to work with .user.ini files instead of php.ini files.

Like php.ini and .htaccess files, you tin find the .user.ini in your site'due south root directory. If you can't find information technology, so you can create a new .user.ini file in the same location. Follow the same procedure described in the previous method to create a newphp.ini file.

Next, add together the post-obit code to your .user.ini file:

          upload_max_filesize = 32M post_max_size = 64M memory_limit = 128M        

You'll detect that it's a repeat of the previous method, except with a different filename.

Change PHP Options via cPanel

If your hosting provider uses the cPanel dashboard to aid you lot manage your server and site configuration, y'all can change the max upload file size through its interface.

To get started, get to your cPanel dashboard, and select the Select PHP Version under the Software section.

Click 'Select PHP Version' in cPanel dashboard
Click 'Select PHP Version' in the cPanel dashboard

Here, you can alter your server's current PHP version and enable/disable many PHP extensions. Click on the Options link in the navigation menu to go to the PHP Options console.

Go to the 'PHP Options' settings in cPanel
Go to the 'PHP Options' settings in cPanel

Scroll down here to modify the values of PHP directives such as upload_max_filesize , post_max_size , memory_limit , max_execution_time , and max_input_time . The max values you lot can set here depend on your current hosting plan.

The 'PHP Options' screen in cPanel
The 'PHP Options' screen in cPanel

If you have any doubts about these values, we suggest y'all contact your hosting provider. The latest cPanel dashboard saves changes automatically, so you don't have to click anything. Only if yous're using an older cPanel version, make certain to click the Save Changes button.

Increase the Max Upload File Size in Nginx

Nginx is another webserver like Apache, merely it's also a lot more. Typically, Nginx can handle more concurrent requests than Apache, making it a lot faster. Kinsta uses Nginx to power its operation-optimized hosting solutions for WordPress.

If yous're running your WordPress site on Nginx, you'll need to change both your php.ini and nginx.conf files. We've dealt with the quondam file earlier. The latter ane is called an Nginx config file.

On an Nginx server, you can discover the php.ini file at /etc/php/7.four/fpm/php.ini . Depending on which PHP version you've installed, the exact path may vary slightly.

          upload_max_filesize = 64M post_max_size = 128M        

Yous don't accept to prepare the memory_limit in the above file as Nginx handles it differently. For more than, you can check out this Stack Overflow thread. After saving your php.ini file, enable the changes by restarting PHP-FPM using the below code in your terminal:

          sudo service php7.4-fpm restart        

Again, the verbal code may vary slightly depending on the PHP version installed on your server.

Next, use Nginx'south client_max_body_size directive to set the new max upload size limit. You need to declare this directive in the nginx.conf file, which you can find at /etc/nginx/nginx.conf .

Yous can declare this directive inside the http {...} block, the server {...} block, or the location {...} cake.

Setting it in the http block volition affect all the sites/apps hosted on this server.

          http {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

Defining it in the server block will just touch a specific site/app hosted by this server.

          server {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

The location cake merely affects the specified directory (e.g. files, uploads) inside a site/app.

          location /files {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

Don't forget to save the file and restart Nginx to apply the changes. To do that, y'all can utilize the following command in your terminal:

          sudo service nginx reload        

If you're a Kinsta client, yous can't access your Nginx config directly. However, you can reach out to our support team, and they tin can quickly brand the changes for you.

Use the WordPress 'upload_size_limit' Filter

WordPress two.5 introduced the upload_size_limit filter, which filters the maximum upload size allowed in php.ini. Even WordPress uses this filter to testify you the max upload size allowed, like in the Media Library and Site Health Info screens.

Below is an example of this filter in action from WordPress contributor Drew Jaynes. It defines the upload size limit for all non-admin roles.

          /** * Filter the upload size limit for not-administrators. * * @param string $size Upload size limit (in bytes). * @return int (maybe) Filtered size limit. */ function filter_site_upload_size_limit( $size ) { // Set the upload size limit to ten MB for users lacking the 'manage_options' capability. if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) { // ten MB. $size = 1024 * 10000; } return $size; } add_filter( 'upload_size_limit', 'filter_site_upload_size_limit', twenty );        

The above code uses WordPress' manage_options adequacy to set this limit only for non-admins. Yous can modify the code to target specific user roles or user ids. Read our in-depth WordPress roles and capabilities article for more information.

Use a WordPress Plugin

Messing with code using SSH or FTP/SFTP is not for everyone. If yous're non comfortable with writing or editing code, you can utilise a WordPress plugin instead.

WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin
WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin

We'll be using the WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin hither. As of writing this, it's the only up-to-date plugin on the WordPress plugin repository that helps y'all become this done.

To go started, install and activate the WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin. Next, get to its settings screen in your WordPress dashboard. Hither, yous tin can run across the maximum upload file size set by both your hosting provider and WordPress.

WP Maximum Upload File Size settings screen
WP Maximum Upload File Size settings screen

Hither, you tin run into that the maximum upload file size set up past WordPress is lesser than that set by your hosting provider. Hence, you can crank it up by choosing the Maximum Upload File Size with the dropdown presented.

Notation: If you want to set a max upload file size limit that's larger than the one set by your hosting provider, it's non possible to exercise it via this plugin. For that, you demand to contact your hosting provider.

Upload Files via FTP/SFTP

Are you still struggling with all the above methods? Or with your hosting provider to have them raise the upload file size limit? You can ever upload big files via FTP/SFTP.

FileZilla window with a site connected
Elevate and driblet files to and for your server and computer with SFTP

If you lot take a lot of large files to upload, this is the fastest method. Y'all tin read our in-depth tutorial on how to bulk upload files to the WordPress media library for more information.

Sometimes, WordPress doesn't recognize files uploaded via FTP/SFTP. If that's the case, you can use the gratuitous Add From Server plugin to import the uploaded files into WordPress.

Alternatively, you can do the aforementioned straight from the command line by importing images using WP-CLI. The wp media import command allows y'all to create attachments from local files or URLs.

Don't Edit the 'wp-config.php' File

Editing the wp-config.php file doesn't work anymore. We're adding it here because we've institute many web tutorials that listing information technology as a legitimate way to increase the max upload size in WordPress.

It involves going to your site'southward root directory via FTP/SFTP or SSH and then editing the wp-config.php file.

Finding the 'wp-config.php' file
Finding the 'wp-config.php' file

You're suggested to add the following code to the wp-config.php file:

          @ini_set( 'upload_max_size' , '64M' ); @ini_set( 'post_max_size', '128M'); @ini_set( 'memory_limit', '256M' );        

Information technology fails to work because you tin only use the ini_set() role to fix PHP directives that belong to the PHP_INI_ALL changeable mode.

As upload_max_size and post_max_size vest to the PHP_INI_PERDIR changeable mode. You can only gear up them via php.ini, .htaccess, http.conf, or .user.ini.

If you've tried this method before without seeing any results, now you know why information technology fails.

Verify Your WordPress Site's New Max Upload File Size

Finally, information technology's time to verify whether the new max upload file size limit is implemented in your WordPress site. To do this, follow the aforementioned procedure nosotros discussed above to check the max upload file size in WordPress.

Go to your Media Library in the WordPress dashboard and check whether the max upload file size limit has inverse.

Verifying the new max upload file size limit
Verifying the new max upload file size in 'Media Library'

Yeah, it has changed. That's a success!

You tin as well go to the Site Health Info console and bank check for the same under Media Treatment and Server dropdowns.

Verifying the new max upload file size limit in 'Site Health Info'
Verifying the new max upload file size in 'Site Health Info > Media Library'
Verifying the new max upload file size limit in 'Site Health Info'
Verifying the new max upload file size in 'Site Health Info > Server'

Don't let the maximum upload size in WordPress agree you dorsum! 🙅‍♂️ This guide will evidence you how y'all can easily increment the limit to accommodate your larger files 👇 Click to Tweet

Summary

As you've seen, increasing the maximum upload file size in WordPress isn't also circuitous. Whether you're building a media-heavy portfolio site or installing a large theme, it'south but a matter of knowing where to wait for and what commands or tools to apply.

In most cases, reaching out to your hosting provider should be plenty. Still, if you're stuck with a troublesome host, we've shown you lot some alternative methods you lot can endeavour before migrating to better hosting.

Become uploading!

Did nosotros comprehend information technology all? If you've experienced a stubborn case of upload file size limits, permit united states know how yous managed to fix it.


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