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'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, there are many ways to go about solving this result. We'll cover them all in this article and show you how to increase the maximum upload size in WordPress quickly.

Let'due south dive in!

Prefer to sentry the video version?

What Is the Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?

Uploading big files to a server consumes a lot of the server's resource. To preclude users from causing server timeouts, the default maximum upload size in WordPress typically ranges from four MB to 128 MB. Usually, the hosting provider sets this limit at the server level.

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

To verify this, become to your WordPress site'southward Media Library. Here, try to upload a file that crosses this maximum upload file size limit. You'll see an error bulletin that looks something similar 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 ii master reasons: security and efficiency. It hinders site owners and other users, including malicious actors, from uploading huge files (e.g. loftier-resolution images, large videos).

Otherwise, information technology can result in incapacitating your website's server, making your site come to a crawl. Or worse, it can bring your site downwards altogether!

Desire to upload a big file, plugin, or theme... but limited by the max upload size?🗂 Larn how to resolve this common issue apace & easily correct hither ⬇️ Click to Tweet

How to Cheque the Electric current Maximum Upload Size in WordPress

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

In the Media Library

The quickest way to bank check your site'southward current maximum upload size is to get to your WordPress dashboard, and from at that place, go to Media > Library. Here, click on the Add together New push 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. If yous're using a different web hosting provider, you may encounter a dissimilar limit listed hither.

You tin can likewise go to Media > Add New directly and see the aforementioned bulletin displayed at the bottom.

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

Again, you can see the 128 MB max upload file size here.

In the Site Health Info

WordPress five.2 added the Site Health Info tool to assist y'all debug your WordPress site better. Hither, you can observe well-nigh all the information about your server and WordPress configuration.

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

First, you can discover it 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 second method is to look nether the Server dropdown. You'll discover many options related to your webserver'south setup under here. Please 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 too see other PHP constants and their values, such equally:

  • PHP post max size: Defines the maximum upload limit for POST requests.
  • PHP memory limit: Defines the retentiveness allocated for PHP. It should be prepare equal to or higher than the Upload max filesize limit. Or else the upload will neglect.

Your web host sets these options. Usually, starter hosting plans volition take a lesser upload size limit than enterprise hosting plans. Some hosts may let you to override these limits. Just in near cases, you may demand your hosting provider's help (and possibly a program upgrade) to increase them.

Why Increment the Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress?

There are many reasons why you may need to increment your WordPress site'south maximum upload file size. Hither are the almost common ones:

  • You desire to install a large theme or plugin directly through the WordPress admin dashboard.
  • Updating your WordPress site regularly is a peachy way to proceed your readers engaged and return for more. And that includes uploading new images, videos, audios, and other media regularly. However, that's not e'er feasible when in that location'due south a file size limit for your uploads.
  • You lot want to upload a big video or paradigm every bit your site's background or header.
  • You plan to sell digital files such as ebooks, photographs, videos, themes, and plugins directly from your site. Sometimes, these files can run upward to hundreds of megabytes (or more).

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

10 Means to Increase the Max Upload File Size in WordPress

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

Contact Your Hosting Provider for Aid

If you're facing issues with uploading files and file size limits, reaching out to your hosting provider for assist is one of the quickest solutions. Increasing the upload limit is a footling chore for tech support, so almost hosting companies can assist you set up this effect quickly.

Tinkering with your server or site configuration files tin can always be a challenge. Hence, we always recommend y'all try this method start.

If you're hosting your site with Kinsta, our knowledgeable support squad is but a click away and available 24/7. To go 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 easily through MyKinsta

Nosotros accept 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 lot're running a WordPress Multisite network, so you tin can modify the max upload file size for your network.

Outset, head to your Network Admin dashboard, and then go to Settings > Network Settings screen. Hither, coil down till you find the Upload Settings department. You'll find the Max upload file size field in this expanse.

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 button.

Note: You cannot circumvent the server-level max upload size limit from hither. If the limit you set up hither is college than the server's max upload size limit, the server volition ignore information technology. You lot can use the methods described higher up to find your webserver's configuration.

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

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

Y'all can likewise limit the full size of files uploaded to an individual site in the Multisite network. However, it'south disabled by default.

Update Your '.htaccess' File

If your webserver runs on Apache, you can update your site'due south .htaccess file to increment the max upload size in WordPress. Y'all can detect 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 Health Info section in a higher place. Information technology would help if you modified these iii directives' values to admit your file sizes. For case, if the largest file you're planning to upload is 32 MB, we recommend the post-obit settings:

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

Detect, all the values apply Grand instead of MB. That'southward how PHP handles its directives.

Uploads can contain extra information in addition to the file itself. And so, giving all other upload-related directives some breathing space is a skillful thought. You lot can read our in-depth tutorial on how to meliorate PHP memory limit in WordPress for more information.

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

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

Open the.htaccess file with a text editor or lawmaking editor, and and 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        

Yous can notice ii other PHP directives in the above code: max_execution_time and max_input_time . They define how long a server spends on a single PHP job. The bigger your uploads, the bigger the time spent will be. You lot need to set their values to a number that's appropriate for your use example.

Notation: Y'all may get a 500 Internal Server Mistake later on using the method above. Most probable, it's considering your server is running PHP in CGI mode. In such cases, yous cannot utilise 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 resources 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! Y'all can create a new file with the aforementioned name in your site'south root directory.

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

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

Subscribe At present

Create or Alter 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 lot can find the .user.ini in your site's root directory. If you tin't find it, and so y'all tin create a new .user.ini file in the same location. Follow the same process described in the previous method to create a newphp.ini file.

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

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

You lot'll notice that it'due south a repeat of the previous method, except with a unlike filename.

Change PHP Options via cPanel

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

To get started, become 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, y'all can modify your server's current PHP version and enable/disable many PHP extensions. Click on the Options link in the navigation menu to become to the PHP Options panel.

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

Gyre down here to change 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 set here depend on your electric current hosting program.

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

If you take any doubts about these values, we advise you contact your hosting provider. The latest cPanel dashboard saves changes automatically, and then you don't accept to click anything. Merely if you're using an older cPanel version, make sure to click the Save Changes button.

Increase the Max Upload File Size in Nginx

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

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

On an Nginx server, you can notice the php.ini file at /etc/php/7.4/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 prepare the memory_limit in the to a higher place file as Nginx handles it differently. For more, you can check out this Stack Overflow thread. Afterwards saving your php.ini file, enable the changes by restarting PHP-FPM using the beneath code in your final:

          sudo service php7.4-fpm restart        

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

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

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

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

          http {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

Defining it in the server cake will but touch on a specific site/app hosted by this server.

          server {     ...     client_max_body_size 128M; }        

The location block merely affects the specified directory (east.grand. files, uploads) inside a site/app.

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

Don't forget to save the file and restart Nginx to utilise the changes. To do that, you can use the post-obit command in your terminal:

          sudo service nginx reload        

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

Utilize the WordPress 'upload_size_limit' Filter

WordPress ii.5 introduced the upload_size_limit filter, which filters the maximum upload size immune in php.ini. Even WordPress uses this filter to show 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 correspondent 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 (possibly) Filtered size limit. */ role filter_site_upload_size_limit( $size ) { // Set up the upload size limit to x MB for users defective the 'manage_options' capability. if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) { // 10 MB. $size = 1024 * 10000; } return $size; } add_filter( 'upload_size_limit', 'filter_site_upload_size_limit', 20 );        

The in a higher place lawmaking uses WordPress' manage_options capability to set this limit only for not-admins. You tin can modify the code to target specific user roles or user ids. Read our in-depth WordPress roles and capabilities article for more than information.

Use a WordPress Plugin

Messing with code using SSH or FTP/SFTP is non for anybody. If yous'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. As of writing this, it'southward the merely upwardly-to-engagement plugin on the WordPress plugin repository that helps you lot get this done.

To get started, install and activate the WP Maximum Upload File Size plugin. Next, go to its settings screen in your WordPress dashboard. Here, y'all 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 set up by WordPress is bottom than that ready by your hosting provider. Hence, you can crank it upward by choosing the Maximum Upload File Size with the dropdown presented.

Note: If yous want to set a max upload file size limit that's larger than the one set by your hosting provider, it's not possible to do it via this plugin. For that, you demand to contact your hosting provider.

Upload Files via FTP/SFTP

Are yous however struggling with all the to a higher place methods? Or with your hosting provider to take them raise the upload file size limit? You can always upload large files via FTP/SFTP.

FileZilla window with a site connected
Drag and driblet files to and for your server and estimator with SFTP

If you lot have a lot of large files to upload, this is the fastest method. You 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 employ the free Add From Server plugin to import the uploaded files into WordPress.

Alternatively, you tin can do the aforementioned direct 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. Nosotros're adding it here because nosotros've found many web tutorials that listing it as a legitimate fashion to increase the max upload size in WordPress.

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

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

You're suggested to add the post-obit lawmaking 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 y'all tin only use the ini_set() office to prepare PHP directives that belong to the PHP_INI_ALL changeable mode.

As upload_max_size and post_max_size belong to the PHP_INI_PERDIR changeable fashion. You can but set them via php.ini, .htaccess, http.conf, or .user.ini.

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

Verify Your WordPress Site's New Max Upload File Size

Finally, information technology'southward 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 we 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'

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

Yous tin can also go to the Site Health Info panel and bank check for the aforementioned 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 Wellness Info > Server'

Don't let the maximum upload size in WordPress hold yous back! 🙅‍♂️ This guide volition show you how yous 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 likewise circuitous. Whether yous're building a media-heavy portfolio site or installing a large theme, it's only a matter of knowing where to look for and what commands or tools to use.

In virtually cases, reaching out to your hosting provider should be enough. Nevertheless, if you're stuck with a troublesome host, we've shown you lot some alternative methods you can try before migrating to meliorate hosting.

Get uploading!

Did we cover it all? If you've experienced a stubborn case of upload file size limits, permit u.s.a. know how you managed to prepare it.


Save time, costs and maximize site performance with:

  • Instant help from WordPress hosting experts, 24/7.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audience reach with 29 data centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our born Application Functioning Monitoring.

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