A low WordPress upload size limit stops you from uploading large files, plugins, and themes. If you're building a media-heavy website, that can be a considerable obstruction. It'due south 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 nearly solving this outcome. We'll cover them all in this commodity and testify you how to increment the maximum upload size in WordPress quickly.

Allow's dive in!

Prefer to watch the video version?

What Is the Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?

Uploading large files to a server consumes a lot of the server'south 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, but they cannot override the server-level settings in virtually cases.

To verify this, go to your WordPress site's 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
Error while uploading a large file in WordPress

The "exceeds the maximum upload size for this site" error can be frustrating, but it exists for two primary reasons: security and efficiency. It hinders site owners and other users, including malicious actors, from uploading huge files (eastward.g. high-resolution images, large videos).

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

Want to upload a big file, plugin, or theme... simply limited by the max upload size?🗂 Learn how to resolve this common issue apace & hands right here ⬇️ Click to Tweet

How to Check the Current Maximum Upload Size in WordPress

At that place are many means to check your WordPress site'due south current max upload size. Let's get through all of them.

In the Media Library

The quickest way to bank check your site's current maximum upload size is to go to your WordPress dashboard, and from there, become to Media > Library. Here, click on the Add New push to actuate the media uploader tool.

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

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

You can also become to Media > Add New directly and see the same message displayed at the lesser.

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

Over again, you can run into the 128 MB max upload file size here.

In the Site Health Info

WordPress 5.ii added the Site Wellness Info tool to aid you debug your WordPress site meliorate. Hither, you can find near all the information about your server and WordPress configuration.

As both the server and WordPress handle the max upload file size, there are ii ways to find its value on this screen.

First, you tin can notice it listed under the Media Handling dropdown. Hither, look for the value of Max size of an uploaded file abiding.

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

The second method is to look under the Server dropdown. Y'all'll find many options related to your webserver's setup under here. Delight 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 Health Info' panel

You lot tin can also encounter 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 be set up equal to or college than the Upload max filesize limit. Or else the upload will fail.

Your spider web host sets these options. Unremarkably, starter hosting plans volition take a lesser upload size limit than enterprise hosting plans. Some hosts may permit you to override these limits. But in most cases, you lot may need your hosting provider's assistance (and perhaps a programme upgrade) to increment them.

Why Increase the Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress?

In that location are many reasons why you lot may demand to increase your WordPress site's maximum upload file size. Here are the about common ones:

  • Yous want to install a large theme or plugin directly through the WordPress admin dashboard.
  • Updating your WordPress site regularly is a great mode 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 viable when there'due south a file size limit for your uploads.
  • Yous want to upload a large video or image as your site'southward background or header.
  • You plan to sell digital files such every bit ebooks, photographs, videos, themes, and plugins straight from your site. Sometimes, these files can run up to hundreds of megabytes (or more).

At present that we've covered the nuts of max upload file size in WordPress, let'southward learn how to increment it.

10 Ways to Increase the Max Upload File Size in WordPress

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

Contact Your Hosting Provider for Assistance

If you're facing problems with uploading files and file size limits, reaching out to your hosting provider for help is one of the quickest solutions. Increasing the upload limit is a trivial task for tech support, then almost hosting companies can help you ready this effect quickly.

Tinkering with your server or site configuration files can always exist a challenge. Hence, nosotros always recommend y'all endeavour this method first.

If you're hosting your site with Kinsta, our knowledgeable back up squad is only a click abroad and available 24/vii. To get started, go to your MyKinsta dashboard and click the chat icon in the bottom right corner.

Contact Kinsta support easily through MyKinsta
Contact Kinsta back up hands through MyKinsta

We have representatives to aid yous in many languages, including English language, Spanish, French, High german, 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.

Outset, caput to your Network Admin dashboard, and then go to Settings > Network Settings screen. Here, curlicue downwards till you find the Upload Settings section. Yous'll find the Max upload file size field in this surface 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 (~i.5 MB). You can modify this to a higher value and click the Save Changes button.

Note: You cannot circumvent the server-level max upload size limit from hither. If the limit you set hither is higher than the server'southward max upload size limit, the server volition ignore information technology. You tin utilize the methods described above to find your webserver'southward 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 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 tin can update your site'south .htaccess file to increase the max upload size in WordPress. You can find your .htaccess file in the WordPress site's root directory.

As per PHP documentation, three 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 to a higher place. It would help if you modified these three directives' values to admit your file sizes. For example, if the largest file you lot're planning to upload is 32 MB, we recommend the following settings:

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

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

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

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

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

Open the.htaccess file with a text editor or code editor, and and then add the post-obit 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 discover ii other PHP directives in the above lawmaking: max_execution_time and max_input_time . They ascertain how long a server spends on a unmarried PHP job. The bigger your uploads, the bigger the fourth dimension spent will be. You need to set up their values to a number that's appropriate for your apply case.

Note: Yous may get a 500 Internal Server Error after using the method to a higher place. Nigh likely, information technology's because your server is running PHP in CGI mode. In such cases, you cannot use the above 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 resource limits.

Using SSH or FTP, you can find the php.ini file in your WordPress root directory. In some cases, you may not locate it there. Fret not! You tin create a new file with the same proper 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 together 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 salvage your file after making the changes. Some hosts don't permit you to modify PHP settings via this method. In such a example, you can proceed to try the post-obit solution instead.

Subscribe Now

Create or Modify the '.user.ini' File

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

Next, add the following code to your .user.ini file:

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

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

Modify PHP Options via cPanel

If your hosting provider uses the cPanel dashboard to assistance you manage your server and site configuration, you tin change the max upload file size through its interface.

To become started, go 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 change your server'due south current PHP version and enable/disable many PHP extensions. Click on the Options link in the navigation menu to go to the PHP Options panel.

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

Scroll downwards here to alter 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 can prepare here depend on your current hosting plan.

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

If yous take any doubts about these values, we suggest you contact your hosting provider. The latest cPanel dashboard saves changes automatically, so you don't have to click annihilation. But if you're using an older cPanel version, make sure to click the Relieve Changes button.

Increment the Max Upload File Size in Nginx

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

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

On an Nginx server, you can detect the php.ini file at /etc/php/7.iv/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        

You don't have to set the memory_limit in the higher up file equally Nginx handles it differently. For more, you lot tin can check out this Stack Overflow thread. After saving your php.ini file, enable the changes past restarting PHP-FPM using the beneath code in your terminal:

          sudo service php7.4-fpm restart        

Over again, the exact code may vary slightly depending on the PHP version installed on your server.

Next, use Nginx'southward 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 lot can observe at /etc/nginx/nginx.conf .

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

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

          http {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

Defining information technology in the server block will merely touch a specific site/app hosted by this server.

          server {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

The location block just affects the specified directory (due east.thou. files, uploads) within 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 use the following command in your terminal:

          sudo service nginx reload        

If you're a Kinsta customer, y'all can't access your Nginx config directly. Yet, you can achieve out to our support team, and they tin quickly make the changes for you.

Use the WordPress 'upload_size_limit' Filter

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

Below is an case 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 non-administrators. * * @param string $size Upload size limit (in bytes). * @return int (maybe) Filtered size limit. */ role filter_site_upload_size_limit( $size ) { // Set up the upload size limit to 10 MB for users defective the 'manage_options' adequacy. if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) { // x MB. $size = 1024 * 10000; } return $size; } add_filter( 'upload_size_limit', 'filter_site_upload_size_limit', xx );        

The above code uses WordPress' manage_options capability to set this limit only for non-admins. You lot tin alter the code to target specific user roles or user ids. Read our in-depth WordPress roles and capabilities article for more data.

Use a WordPress Plugin

Messing with code using SSH or FTP/SFTP is non for everyone. If you're non comfortable with writing or editing code, y'all can use 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. Every bit of writing this, information technology'due south the but up-to-engagement plugin on the WordPress plugin repository that helps you become this washed.

To get started, install and activate the WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin. Next, go to its settings screen in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can come across the maximum upload file size ready 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 gear up past WordPress is lesser than that set by your hosting provider. Hence, you can creepo information technology upwardly by choosing the Maximum Upload File Size with the dropdown presented.

Annotation: If y'all want to gear up a max upload file size limit that'due south larger than the i prepare past your hosting provider, it's not possible to do it via this plugin. For that, you need to contact your hosting provider.

Upload Files via FTP/SFTP

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

FileZilla window with a site connected
Elevate 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'southward the case, y'all tin use the gratuitous Add together From Server plugin to import the uploaded files into WordPress.

Alternatively, y'all can do the aforementioned straight from the command 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. Nosotros're adding it here considering nosotros've found many web tutorials that list information technology every bit a legitimate way to increase the max upload size in WordPress.

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

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

Yous're suggested to add the post-obit 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 can merely use the ini_set() role to set PHP directives that vest to the PHP_INI_ALL changeable mode.

As upload_max_size and post_max_size vest to the PHP_INI_PERDIR child-bearing style. You can only prepare them via php.ini, .htaccess, http.conf, or .user.ini.

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

Verify Your WordPress Site'due south New Max Upload File Size

Finally, it'southward time 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 check the max upload file size in WordPress.

Go to your Media Library in the WordPress dashboard and bank 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'

Yeah, information technology has changed. That'south a success!

You lot can also go to the Site Health Info panel and bank check for the same under 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 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 concur you back! 🙅‍♂️ This guide will evidence you how you lot can easily increase 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 too circuitous. Whether you're building a media-heavy portfolio site or installing a large theme, it's just a thing of knowing where to look for and what commands or tools to utilize.

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

Get uploading!

Did we cover it all? If you lot've experienced a stubborn case of upload file size limits, let us know how you managed to fix it.


Save time, costs and maximize site performance with:

  • Instant aid from WordPress hosting experts, 24/7.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audience reach with 29 data centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our built-in Application Operation Monitoring.

All of that and much more, in one programme with no long-term contracts, assisted migrations, and a 30-day-money-back-guarantee. Check out our plans or talk to sales to find the plan that's correct for you lot.