Upload Anything: How to Increase Maximum File Upload Size in WordPress

Have you ever tried to upload a video or a feature-packed theme to your WordPress website, only to be stopped by an error message?

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You’re all set to add new features to your site, but WordPress seems to have other plans.

Many WordPress users have to deal with file upload limits, and today, we’re going to tackle this problem head-on. I’ll show you how to increase the maximum file upload size in WordPress!

Here are the key takeaways:

• WordPress file upload limits are set by your server’s PHP settings, not WordPress itself. Defaults can be as low as 2MB.
• You can check your current limit under Media » Add New Media File or Tools » Site Health » Info.
• The easiest fix for beginners is contacting your hosting provider and asking them to increase the limit.
• For hands-on users, editing your php.ini or .htaccess file gives you direct control over upload size settings.
• WPCode lets you safely add PHP snippets to increase limits without risking your theme files.
• If you’re migrating a large site, Duplicator’s DupArchive format bypasses upload limits entirely.
• WordPress Multisite users can adjust upload limits directly from the Network Admin dashboard.

Table of Contents

Each hosting provider has a different default WordPress upload size. Some offer generous limits, while others can be quite restrictive. It’s common to find yourself limited to just 2MB.

High-resolution images, feature-rich plugins, and larger themes often exceed this size limit. This restriction can prevent you from uploading large files and tools that could enhance your website.

When to Increase Your Max File Upload Size

Here are some common scenarios where you might need to bump up that maximum file upload limit:

• Error messages

If you’ve ever seen the “exceeds the maximum upload size for this site” error, it’s a clear sign you need a higher limit.

• Large themes and plugins

Modern WordPress themes and plugins are often packed with features, resulting in larger file sizes. If you can’t install that perfect theme you’ve been eyeing, it might be time for an increase.

• High-quality media

Today’s websites thrive on visual content. If you work with high-resolution images or videos, you’ll likely need a higher upload limit size to showcase your best work.

• Website migration

Moving your site to a new host? A higher upload limit can make the process smoother, especially if you have a large database or a lot of files.

• E-learning materials

If you’re running an online course or membership site, you may need to upload large PDF files, video lessons, or audio content. You’ll likely need a higher WordPress maximum upload size.

• Portfolio sites

Photographers, designers, and other creatives often need to upload high-resolution files to display their work effectively.

How to Check Your Site’s File Upload Size

Before you start increasing your upload limit, it’s important to know where you’re starting from. Let’s walk through how to quickly check your maximum file upload size.

WordPress displays your max file upload size as you’re adding new files to your media library.

Go to Media » Add New Media File and look at the bottom of the page. You’ll see a message that says Maximum upload file size: X MB.

You can also go to Tools » Site Health » Info and find the Media Handling section.

Knowing your current maximum upload size helps you understand how much you need to increase it. If you’re consistently hitting the limit, you might want to consider doubling or even tripling your current size.

How to Increase Maximum File Upload Size in WordPress

Now that you know your current limit, let’s explore several methods to increase upload size limits.

• Method 1: Use Duplicator: Best for site migrations; its DupArchive format transfers large files without hitting server upload limits.
• Method 2: Contact Your Web Host: The easiest option for beginners; most hosts will raise your limit quickly and at no extra cost.
• Method 3: Edit Your php.ini File: A reliable hands-on method; use cPanel’s MultiPHP INI Editor or edit the file directly via FTP.
• Method 4: Edit the functions.php File: Adjust PHP upload settings through your theme files; WPCode keeps this safe and reversible.
• Method 5: Edit the .htaccess File: Add PHP directives directly to your root .htaccess file; always back up before making changes.
• Method 6: Use a Plugin to Increase File Upload Limits: The EasyMedia plugin lets you select a higher upload limit from your dashboard.
• Method 7: WordPress Multisite: Increase upload limits network-wide from Settings » Network Settings in the Network Admin dashboard.

Method 1: Use Duplicator to Migrate Data Without Upload Limits

Duplicator is a plugin designed to make WordPress migrations smoother, especially when dealing with large files. If you’re having problems migrating your site because of file upload size limits, Duplicator can help.

With Duplicator, you can use a custom file format called DupArchive. This handles large files even on servers with low PHP limits.

Whether you have a large database or a lot of media files, Duplicator can back up your site. Then, it’ll smoothly import it into the new location without errors.

To get started, install and activate Duplicator on your website.

Find Duplicator Pro » Settings » Backups. Go to the Database section and change the SQL Mode to PHP Code and Multi-Threaded.

In the Archive settings, set the Archive Engine to DupArchive. Save these changes.

Next, create a new backup of your site. Include all of your data.

Once the backup is built, download both files.

To migrate your site to another location, you can install Duplicator Pro and open the Import Backups page. Drag and drop your backup archive file into the import box.

If you don’t want to install WordPress first, you can also upload the backup files to your new server. Navigate to the installer.php file in your browser with this link: https://your-domain/installer.php

Either way, Duplicator will sidestep the upload size issue and transfer your data to the new host!

Method 2: Contact Your WordPress Hosting Provider

While Duplicator is great for migrations, you might still want to increase your upload limit for day-to-day operations. One easy method to increase file upload limits is to contact your web hosting provider.

For beginners, this is the easiest and most recommended method to increase the upload limit of your site. Most hosting providers understand the need for larger file uploads and are often willing to increase your limit.

Reach out to your host’s support team. You can usually do this via live chat (often the quickest option), support ticket, or phone call.

Explain that you need to increase max upload size. Specify the new limit you’re looking for.

You should ask if there are any potential downsides or additional costs involved. However, many hosts will make this change for you quickly and at no extra cost.

Method 3: Create/Edit Your php.ini File

If you’re comfortable working with server files, you can increase the max upload limit by editing your php.ini file. If your web host provides cPanel access, this is an easy process.

For this tutorial, I’ll be using Bluehost. Sign into your control panel and open cPanel.

In the Software section, click on MultiPHP INI Editor.

Find the upload_max_filesize setting. Change the value and hit Apply.

If you don’t have cPanel, connect to your server via FTP or use your host’s file manager.

Look for a file named php.ini in your root directory. If it doesn’t exist, create one.

Add or modify the following lines in the file:

upload_max_filesize = 256M

post_max_size = 256M

max_execution_time = 300

Remember, the values above are just examples. Adjust them based on your needs and server capabilities.

Save the file and upload it back to your server if you’re using FTP. Restart your web server for the changes to take effect.

Method 4: Add Code to the functions.php File

If you can’t find or edit the php.ini file, you can try adjusting the upload size limit through your theme’s functions.php file.

Although you could do this manually, you might accidentally break your theme. WPCode offers a safe way to add custom code snippets to your site, and I’d highly recommend using it.

Install WPCode and add a new custom code snippet.

Choose PHP Snippet as the code type.

In the editor, add this code:

@ini_set( 'upload_max_size' , '256M' );

@ini_set( 'post_max_size', '256M');

@ini_set( 'max_execution_time', '300' );

Save and activate the code snippet.

Method 5: Add Code to the .htaccess File

Another way to increase upload file size is by modifying the .htaccess file.

To do this, connect to your website via FTP. Locate the .htaccess file in your WordPress root directory.

Add the following lines to the 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

Save the file and upload it back to your server.

Be careful when editing the .htaccess file. Incorrect modifications can cause your site to malfunction. Always create a backup before making changes!

Method 6. Use a Plugin to Increase WordPress File Upload Size

If you’re not comfortable editing files directly, you can use a WordPress plugin to increase your upload limit. EasyMedia (formerly Increase Maximum Upload File Size) is a good option.

After activating the plugin, find Media » EasyMedia. Select a higher upload size and save the changes.

The plugin will only give you the highest file upload size allowed by your web host. If you need more, contact your hosting provider.

Method 7: Increase File Upload Size in Multisite

If you’re running a WordPress Multisite network, you can directly increase file upload size in your dashboard.

Sign in to the Network Admin dashboard. Click on Settings » Network Settings. In the Upload Settings, change the Max upload file size value.

If you set this higher than your server allows, your server will ignore it. So, you might also need to contact your hosting provider to increase the limit for your Multisite network.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ready to Upload Without Limits?

File upload restrictions don’t have to slow you down.

For most beginners, reaching out to your hosting provider is the easiest first step. But if you’re comfortable working with files, editing your php.ini file or using WPCode to add a custom snippet gives you more control over your server settings.

And if you’re migrating a large site and running into upload limits along the way, don’t forget about Duplicator. Its DupArchive format is built to handle large file transfers without the usual errors and timeouts.

Duplicator Pro offers the most reliable way to move your site to a new host without losing any data. Use it to avoid file upload limits!

While you’re here, I think you’ll like these extra WordPress guides:

• How to Migrate a Large WordPress Site
• How to Back Up a Large WordPress Site
• How Ergo Creative Migrates Large Websites in Under 20 Minutes
• How to Increase Memory Limit in WordPress
• Mastering WordPress Debugging: From Basics to Advanced Techniques