A low WordPress upload size limit stops you from uploading big files, plugins, and themes. If you're building a media-heavy website, that tin can exist a considerable obstacle. It's necessary to increment the max upload size in WordPress or your server (or both) in such cases.

Depending on your hosting provider and server, at that place are many means to go about solving this issue. We'll comprehend them all in this commodity and prove yous how to increase the maximum upload size in WordPress chop-chop.

Let'southward dive in!

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What Is the Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?

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

WordPress besides includes constants that ascertain this limit, but they cannot override the server-level settings in most cases.

To verify this, go to your WordPress site's Media Library. Here, effort to upload a file that crosses this maximum upload file size limit. You'll see an error bulletin that looks something like this:

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

The "exceeds the maximum upload size for this site" error tin exist frustrating, simply it exists for two main reasons: security and efficiency. It hinders site owners and other users, including malicious actors, from uploading huge files (e.g. high-resolution images, big videos).

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

Want to upload a large file, plugin, or theme... only limited by 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

In that location are many means to check your WordPress site's current max upload size. Let'southward go through all of them.

In the Media Library

The quickest way to cheque 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 button. If you lot're using a different web hosting provider, you may meet a unlike limit listed here.

You lot can also go to Media > Add New directly and run across the aforementioned bulletin displayed at the lesser.

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

Again, you tin can run into the 128 MB max upload file size here.

In the Site Wellness Info

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

As both the server and WordPress handle the max upload file size, in that location are two ways to find its value on this screen.

First, y'all can find information technology listed under the Media Handling dropdown. Here, look for the value of Max size of an uploaded file constant.

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

The 2d method is to wait under the Server dropdown. You'll find many options related to your webserver's setup under here. Delight search for the value for Upload max filesize constant to see what information technology 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 Health Info' panel

You tin can also see other PHP constants and their values, such as:

  • PHP post max size: Defines the maximum upload limit for Mail service requests.
  • PHP memory limit: Defines the retentivity allocated for PHP. It should exist set 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 will have a lesser upload size limit than enterprise hosting plans. Some hosts may allow yous to override these limits. But in most cases, you may need your hosting provider'south assist (and perhaps a plan upgrade) to increase them.

Why Increment the Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress?

In that location are many reasons why yous may need to increase your WordPress site's maximum upload file size. Hither are the about common ones:

  • You want to install a large theme or plugin direct through the WordPress admin dashboard.
  • Updating your WordPress site regularly is a nifty style to keep your readers engaged and render for more. And that includes uploading new images, videos, audios, and other media regularly. However, that's non always feasible when at that place's a file size limit for your uploads.
  • You want to upload a large video or image as your site's background or header.
  • You plan 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's learn how to increase it.

ten Ways to Increase the Max Upload File Size in WordPress

There are many means you tin fix the WordPress maximum upload size issue. We'll start with the easiest ones beginning, and then we'll move on to the intermediate-level tutorials.

Contact Your Hosting Provider for Help

If you're facing issues with uploading files and file size limits, reaching out to your hosting provider for assistance is one of the quickest solutions. Increasing the upload limit is a trivial task for tech support, so most hosting companies tin can help you set up this issue quickly.

Tinkering with your server or site configuration files tin always exist a challenge. Hence, nosotros always recommend you try this method get-go.

If you're hosting your site with Kinsta, our knowledgeable support team is just a click away and available 24/7. To get started, become to your MyKinsta dashboard and click the chat icon in the bottom right corner.

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

We have representatives to assist you in many languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.

Increase the Max Upload File Size in WordPress Multisite

If you're running a WordPress Multisite network, then you lot can change the max upload file size for your network.

Get-go, head to your Network Admin dashboard, and so go to Settings > Network Settings screen. Hither, scroll down till y'all detect 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 (~1.5 MB). You can change this to a college value and click the Save Changes push.

Note: You cannot circumvent the server-level max upload size limit from here. If the limit you ready here is college than the server'south max upload size limit, the server volition ignore it. You can utilise the methods described above to find your webserver'south configuration.

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

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

You lot can likewise 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 tin can update your site'due south .htaccess file to increase the max upload size in WordPress. You tin find your .htaccess file in the WordPress site's root directory.

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

  • upload_max_filesize
  • post_max_size
  • memory_limit

We've already discussed them in the Site Wellness Info section above. Information technology would assist if yous modified these three directives' values to admit your file sizes. For case, if the largest file you're planning to upload is 32 MB, we recommend the following settings:

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

Notice, all the values use M instead of MB. That'due south how PHP handles its directives.

Uploads tin contain actress data in addition to the file itself. And then, giving all other upload-related directives some breathing space is a good thought. You tin read our in-depth tutorial on how to improve PHP memory limit in WordPress for more information.

Access your .htaccess file via FTP/SFTP or your hosting provider'southward File Manager.

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

Open the.htaccess file with a text editor or code editor, so add together 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 lot can notice two other PHP directives in the higher up code: max_execution_time and max_input_time . They define how long a server spends on a single PHP task. The bigger your uploads, the bigger the fourth dimension spent will be. You need to set their values to a number that's appropriate for your use case.

Note: You may go a 500 Internal Server Error after using the method to a higher place. Most likely, it'south because your server is running PHP in CGI style. In such cases, you cannot use the in a higher place commands in your .htaccess file.

Create or Modify the 'php.ini' File

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

Using SSH or FTP, y'all can find the php.ini file in your WordPress root directory. In some cases, you lot may not locate it there. Fret not! You can create a new file with the same name in your site's 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 relieve your file after making the changes. Some hosts don't permit you to change PHP settings via this method. In such a case, y'all tin can go along to try the following solution instead.

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Create or Alter the '.user.ini' File

If your hosting provider has locked downward 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, y'all can find the .user.ini in your site'south root directory. If y'all can't find it, then yous can create a new .user.ini file in the same location. Follow the aforementioned procedure described in the previous method to create a newphp.ini file.

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

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

You'll notice that information technology'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 help yous manage your server and site configuration, yous tin can modify the max upload file size through its interface.

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

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

Here, you can change your server'south electric current PHP version and enable/disable many PHP extensions. Click on the Options link in the navigation bill of fare to go to the PHP Options panel.

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

Roll 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 yous can ready 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 advise you contact your hosting provider. The latest cPanel dashboard saves changes automatically, so you don't take to click annihilation. Only if you lot're using an older cPanel version, brand sure to click the Save Changes button.

Increase the Max Upload File Size in Nginx

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

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

On an Nginx server, you can find the php.ini file at /etc/php/7.4/fpm/php.ini . Depending on which PHP version you've installed, the verbal path may vary slightly.

          upload_max_filesize = 64M post_max_size = 128M        

Yous don't have to set the memory_limit in the in a higher place file as Nginx handles it differently. For more than, you tin can check out this Stack Overflow thread. Later on 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 exact code may vary slightly depending on the PHP version installed on your server.

Side by side, use Nginx's client_max_body_size directive to fix the new max upload size limit. You lot need to declare this directive in the nginx.conf file, which you can find at /etc/nginx/nginx.conf .

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

Setting it in the http block will bear on all the sites/apps hosted on this server.

          http {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

Defining it in the server block will only affect a specific site/app hosted past this server.

          server {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

The location block only affects the specified directory (east.yard. 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 tin utilize the following command in your terminal:

          sudo service nginx reload        

If you're a Kinsta client, you tin can't admission your Nginx config direct. Withal, y'all can reach out to our support team, and they can quickly make the changes for y'all.

Use the WordPress 'upload_size_limit' Filter

WordPress 2.5 introduced the upload_size_limit filter, which filters the maximum upload size allowed in php.ini. Even WordPress uses this filter to show you the max upload size allowed, similar in the Media Library and Site Health Info screens.

Below is an case of this filter in action from WordPress correspondent 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. */ part filter_site_upload_size_limit( $size ) { // Set the upload size limit to 10 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', 20 );        

The to a higher place code uses WordPress' manage_options capability to set this limit only for non-admins. You lot can alter the code to target specific user roles or user ids. Read our in-depth WordPress roles and capabilities commodity for more than data.

Use a WordPress Plugin

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

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

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

To get started, install and actuate the WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin. Next, go to its settings screen in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you lot can see 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

Here, you can see that the maximum upload file size ready by WordPress is lesser than that set past your hosting provider. Hence, you can crank information technology upwards past choosing the Maximum Upload File Size with the dropdown presented.

Note: If you lot want to ready a max upload file size limit that's larger than the one ready by your hosting provider, it'south not possible to do information technology via this plugin. For that, you lot need to contact your hosting provider.

Upload Files via FTP/SFTP

Are you still struggling with all the in a higher place methods? Or with your hosting provider to have them raise the upload file size limit? You tin can ever upload large files via FTP/SFTP.

FileZilla window with a site connected
Drag and drop files to and for your server and computer with SFTP

If y'all have a lot of large files to upload, this is the fastest method. You can 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 example, you tin can utilise the costless Add together From Server plugin to import the uploaded files into WordPress.

Alternatively, you can do the same straight from the control line by importing images using WP-CLI. The wp media import command allows you 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 information technology hither considering we've found many web tutorials that listing it as a legitimate way to increase the max upload size in WordPress.

Information technology involves going to your site's 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 together 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' );        

It fails to work because you tin only use the ini_set() role to prepare PHP directives that belong to the PHP_INI_ALL changeable manner.

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

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

Verify Your WordPress Site's New Max Upload File Size

Finally, it's fourth dimension to verify whether the new max upload file size limit is implemented in your WordPress site. To do this, follow the same procedure nosotros discussed above to cheque 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 changed.

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

Yes, it has changed. That'southward a success!

You can also become to the Site Health Info panel and check for the same nether Media Handling and Server dropdowns.

Verifying the new max upload file size limit in 'Site Health Info'
Verifying the new max upload file size in 'Site Wellness 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 permit the maximum upload size in WordPress hold you dorsum! 🙅‍♂️ This guide volition testify you how you can easily increase the limit to accommodate your larger files 👇 Click to Tweet

Summary

As you lot've seen, increasing the maximum upload file size in WordPress isn't likewise circuitous. Whether y'all're building a media-heavy portfolio site or installing a large theme, it's but a matter of knowing where to look for and what commands or tools to use.

In nigh cases, reaching out to your hosting provider should exist enough. However, if you're stuck with a troublesome host, we've shown you some alternative methods you can try before migrating to better hosting.

Become uploading!

Did nosotros embrace information technology all? If you've experienced a stubborn example of upload file size limits, permit us know how you managed to fix it.


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