The ability to upload files to your WordPress website is a important task that should not be taken lightly.
Whether you’re a blogger sharing high-resolution images or a web developer working on a feature-rich site, you’ve probably encountered the frustrating limitation of WordPress’s maximum file upload size.
By default, WordPress sets a modest cap on file uploads, which can be a roadblock when you’re trying to share large media files or install hefty plugins and themes.
Fortunately, there’s a solution: increasing the max file upload size in WordPress.
In this tutorial, I will guide you through the steps to make this happen.
Table of Contents
Understanding the File Upload Limitation
Before we dive into the technical details, let’s clarify what the file upload limitation in WordPress means.
Essentially, it’s the maximum file size you can upload to your WordPress website at any given time.
This limitation exists for several reasons, the main ones are server resource management and security.
Checking Your Current Upload Limit
Before making any changes, it’s essential to know your website’s current upload limit.
To do this, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Media” tab and select “Add New.”
Step 3: You’ll see the current maximum upload size displayed at the bottom of the upload window.
Knowing your existing limit will help you determine whether your changes have been successful.
Methods to Increase File Upload Size
Let’s explore four common methods for increasing your file upload size in WordPress.
Method 1: Contact Your WordPress Hosting Provider
This is the easiest of the four methods, as doesn’t involve editing server files.
I recommend Krystal as a hosting provider for the main reason they give great customer service.
With Krystal you can head over to their website and start a live chat with one of their support engineers, and they will be happy to increase the max upload size for you.
Method 2: Editing the .htaccess File
The .htaccess file is a crucial configuration file for your website.
Here’s how you can modify it to increase your file upload size:
Step 1: Access your website’s root directory using an FTP client or your hosting provider’s file manager.
Step 2: Locate the .htaccess file and create a backup before editing it.
Step 3: Add the following code at the end of the .htaccess file:
php_value upload_max_filesize 256M
php_value post_max_size 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300
Step 4: Save the changes and upload the file back to your server.
Method 3: Modifying the php.ini File
If you have access to your server’s php.ini file, you can increase the upload limit by following these steps:
Step 1: Access your website’s root directory using an FTP client or your hosting provider’s file manager.
Step 2: Locate the php.ini file in your server’s configuration directory.
Step 2: Open the php.ini file with a text editor (VS code) or use the built-in editor with your hosting provider’s file manager.
Step 3: Find the following lines and modify them as needed:
upload_max_filesize = 256M
post_max_size = 256M
max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 300
Step 4: Save the changes to the php.ini file.
Method 4: Using the functions.php File
If you’re not comfortable with server-level changes, you can try this method using your theme’s functions.php file:
Step 1: From your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” and select “Theme Editor.”
Step 2: Locate the functions.php file on the right-hand side.
Step 3: Add the following code to the end of the functions.php file:
@ini_set('upload_max_size' , '256M' );
@ini_set('post_max_size', '256M');
@ini_set('max_execution_time', '300');
Step 4: Save the changes.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we’ve explored various methods to increase the maximum file upload size in WordPress.
Whether you chose to edit the .htaccess file, modify the php.ini file, or use the functions.php file, you should now have a better understanding of how to overcome this common limitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I increase the upload size to any value I want?
While you can increase the upload size, there may be practical limits imposed by your hosting provider or server configuration. Always check with your hosting provider for specific limitations.
Will increasing the upload size affect my website’s performance?
Increasing the upload size may consume more server resources, potentially affecting your website’s performance. Monitor your site after making changes and consider upgrading your hosting plan if necessary.
Are there any security risks associated with larger file uploads?
Yes, larger file uploads can pose security risks. Be cautious and keep your WordPress site and plugins updated to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Can I revert the changes if something goes wrong?
Yes, you can revert the changes by restoring the original settings in the .htaccess, php.ini, or functions.php file, depending on which method you used.