How to Increase Upload File Size in WordPress | Increase WordPress Upload Size

How to Increase Upload File Size in WordPress? If you’ve ever tried uploading a large file to WordPress and encountered an error due to the upload file size limit, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many hosting providers set default upload size limits that might be too low for your needs. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to increase WordPress upload size. In this guide, we’ll explore various methods to achieve this.

Why you should Increase WordPress Upload Size?

Sometimes, you may need to increase the upload file size limit to handle larger files. For example, if you run a video content website like a video based website for WordPress tutorials, the default limit might not be sufficient. Similarly, if you work with large files like Photoshop PSDs, AutoCAD projects, or other heavy formats, you’ll need the ability to upload files larger than the default setting allows.

Check Your Current Upload Limit

Before making changes and try to Increase Upload File Size in WordPress, check your current file upload limit. You can do this by navigating to Media > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. The current upload limit will be displayed on the page.

Change Your Hosting Max Upload File Size Limit

Check your hosting management panel (cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, etc.) for PHP settings. Look for PHP Settings or PHP INI Editor. In some environments, these options are found under Select PHP Version. In cPanel, you’ll find them specifically in the PHP INI Editor

Or Select PHP Version Section

in Direct admin it’s located under PHP Selector Section

post_max_size

upload_max_filesize

set the values to desired options and save the setting.

This will resolve the issue 99% of the time, and you can check the new file size in Media > Add New.

Modify the .htaccess File

In the previous section, if you followed all the steps correctly, you should already be able to upload larger files without any issues. However, if you’re still encountering problems with the upload limit, there are a few additional things you can try to resolve the issue.

If your server is running Apache, one effective method is to modify the .htaccess file, which is typically located in the root directory of your website (commonly named public_html or www). This file controls many important configuration settings for your server, and by adding a few specific directives, you can manually increase the file upload size limit. This approach is especially useful when other methods such as changing php.ini or using WordPress plugins haven’t had any effect. To do this, open your .htaccess file in a text editor and insert the following lines at the end of the file:

php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Save the changes and check if the new limit has been applied.

Update the php.ini File

If you have access to your server’s php.ini file, locate it and update or add the following lines:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Restart your server if necessary for the changes to take effect.

Modify wp-config.php

You can also modify your WordPress configuration file by adding the following lines to wp-config.php:

@ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '64M');
@ini_set('post_max_size', '64M');
@ini_set('max_execution_time', '300');

Use a Plugin to increase the upload size

If you’re not comfortable editing code, you can use a plugin like Increase Maximum Upload File Size or WP Maximum Upload File Size to Increase WordPress Upload Size. These plugins allow you to adjust the limits directly from the WordPress admin panel and easily increase the maximum upload file size in WordPress.

Contact Your Hosting Provider to Increase WordPress Upload Size

Some hosting providers impose strict limitations on upload file sizes, and in such cases, these restrictions cannot be adjusted manually through configuration files like php.ini, .htaccess, or even WordPress functions. This can be especially frustrating when you’ve tried all common methods—such as editing settings in your hosting panel or using plugins—but the limit remains unchanged.

If none of these approaches work, the best course of action is to contact your hosting provider directly. Explain your situation clearly, mention the size of the files you need to upload, and ask them to increase the upload limit for your hosting account. Most providers can adjust these limits upon request, especially if you’re on a VPS or dedicated hosting plan. However, some shared hosting services may have hard limits that cannot be raised, in which case you might need to consider upgrading your hosting plan or switching to a more flexible provider

Conclusion

Increasing the maximum upload file size in WordPress is a straightforward process. Whether you choose to modify server settings, use a plugin, or contact your hosting provider, there’s always a solution that fits your setup. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can easily adjust your WordPress site to accommodate larger file uploads.