This frustrating error message is a very common issue for WordPress users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the good news is that WordPress is really flexible, and there are several ways to perform a WordPress increase upload size action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, I\u2019ll help you check your current WordPress maximum upload size and walk you through the process of how to increase the maximum upload size limit in WordPress effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Check Your Current WordPress Maximum Upload Size<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Knowing its current limit is important before you increase your site’s upload size limit. Below are the most common and fastest ways to check the maximum upload size limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Check in the WordPress Media Library<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A simple method is to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Navigate to Media > Library<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click on Add New<\/strong>, and it will bring up the uploader option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Under the file selection option, you should see a message like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaximum upload file size: 60 MB.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Media](\"https:\/\/rapyd.cloud\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-7-1024x374.png?wsr\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe value may be “2 MB,” “64 MB,” “128 MB,” or more, depending on your host defaults and any modifications you may have made already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Use the Site Health Info Screen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
From WordPress 5.2, Site Health also gives you information about your site’s environment. This also includes your file upload limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To view it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- From your WordPress admin dashboard, click Tools > Site Health<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click on Info<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Media Handling. See the size of an uploaded file to see the current WordPress limit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/rapyd.cloud\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-8-1024x408.png?wsr\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Increase Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now let\u2019s share several ways to perform a WordPress increase upload size update. You only need one<\/strong> method to work, so feel free to skip around if your hosting environment doesn\u2019t allow a particular approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Update Your .htaccess File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In case your web server is running Apache (common on many shared hosting environments) you are typically able to increase the upload limit by editing the .html file. This file is generally found in your WordPress website\u2019s root directory (the same folder containing wp-config.php and wp-admin, wp-content, wp-includes folders). This is a direct way to increase upload size in WordPress through server configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s the process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Access the .htaccess file by way of FTP (or the File Manager in your hosting control panel). <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Backup this file prior to editing it. This is important because .htaccess can be extremely sensitive and errors can happen because of incorrect modification. In that case, you might need the backup file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Change.htaccess as described below in a text editor or even a code editor:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
php_value upload_max_filesize 32M\n\nphp_value post_max_size 64M\n\nphp_value memory_limit 128M\n\nphp_value max_execution_time 300\n\nphp_value max_input_time 300<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Save the changes<\/strong> and close the file.
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nYour brand-new upload limit should now be in place if your server is reading .htaccess correctly. In case you get a 500 Internal Server Error, your hosting might be using PHP in CGI mode, so .htaccess cannot override those settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If that happens, delete those lines and try another way below to restore your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Modify the php.ini File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Many hosts set default PHP values, such as upload size limits in a php.ini file.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The php.ini file:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Maybe in your site’s root folder, inside a folder like \/etc\/php\/7.4\/fpm\/, or in a different directory,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- May have a name slightly different from php.ini or user.ini depending on the host configuration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Once you find the php.ini file, follow the steps below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Open the php.ini file with FTP or your hosting control panel’s file manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Search for directives like upload_max_filesize<\/strong>, post_max_size<\/strong>, and possibly memory_limit<\/strong>. If they are missing, then create such files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Set their values<\/strong>, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
upload_max_filesize = 32M\n\npost_max_size = 64M\n\nmemory_limit = 128M\n\nmax_execution_time = 300\n\nmax_input_time = 300<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Save<\/strong> the file and exit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The changes could cause your server to restart PHP-FPM or Apache. Look in your hosting control panel for a Restart Services option (usually under Restart PHP or Restart Apache). If not, changes might just roll back after a brief delay. You can also ask your hosting provider to restart the services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Modify the .user.ini File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In your WordPress root directory, you may find a file called user.ini on some hosting platforms, especially those that prefer user-level overrides instead of global PHP.ini changes. If it is missing, you can create it. To perform a WordPress increase upload size action:
<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe process is almost identical to editing php.ini:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Locate<\/strong> or create<\/strong> a .user.ini file in your site\u2019s root directory.
<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nAdd or modify<\/strong> the same directives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
upload_max_filesize = 32M\n\npost_max_size = 64M\n\nmemory_limit = 128M\n\nmax_execution_time = 300\n\nmax_input_time = 300<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Save the file<\/strong>.
<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nSee if those changes took place by visiting Media > Add New<\/strong> in your WordPress dashboard. Still no updated limit? Check with your host that .user.ini overrides are allowed on your plan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Modify PHP Options via cPanel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your host supports cPanel You may be able to increase the WordPress max upload file size via a graphical interface, no editing code or config files required. While designs may differ by cPanel version, typical steps are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Log in<\/strong> to your cPanel dashboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find the Software<\/strong> section and click on Select PHP Version<\/strong> (or a similar option).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In the new screen, look for Options<\/strong> or PHP Options<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Within that interface, you should see a list of PHP directives, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- upload_max_filesize<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- post_max_size<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- memory_limit<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- max_execution_time<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- max_input_time<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Adjust these values to the new limits you want. Check that the post-max size is larger or equal to the upload-max size. Also, make sure your memory limit is high enough to handle new file sizes. Click the save button if your cPanel has one. Otherwise, changes might be saved automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note:<\/strong> cPanel might place upper thresholds that match your hosting plan. In that case, to set a higher limit, you’ll need to upgrade or contact support for a custom solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Increase the Max Upload File Size in Nginx<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your hosting environment uses Nginx instead of Apache, you must do the process a bit differently to increase file size limits. You have to modify both the php.ini and the Nginx configuration file (nginx.conf) as Nginx enforces its own limit via the client_max_body_size<\/strong> directive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Update <\/strong>php.ini<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Locate your php.ini file, often found in \/etc\/php\/7.4\/fpm\/php.ini (the exact path may vary).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set your desired values:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
upload_max_filesize = 64M\npost_max_size = 128M<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nSave the file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- post_max_size<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find the Software<\/strong> section and click on Select PHP Version<\/strong> (or a similar option).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Log in<\/strong> to your cPanel dashboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Save the file<\/strong>.
- Locate<\/strong> or create<\/strong> a .user.ini file in your site\u2019s root directory.
- Save<\/strong> the file and exit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Save the changes<\/strong> and close the file.
- Click on Info<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click on Add New<\/strong>, and it will bring up the uploader option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
![\"Increase](\"https:\/\/rapyd.cloud\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-9-1024x451.png?wsr\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"FAQ\"](\"https:\/\/rapyd.cloud\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMAGE_-Please-create-a-default-FAQ-image-for-all-blogs-with-fleet-1024x544.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n