Trying to upload something to your WordPress site only to exist met with a message saying "the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini"?

This error bulletin can appear when yous're uploading large images, videos, plugins, themes, whatever type of file that you lot upload to your WordPress site.

In this commodity, we're going to aid y'all fix the problem and make it then that you can upload those big files. In total, we'll cover:

  • What causes the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini
  • How to fix the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini

What Causes the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini

An example of the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini
An example of the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini

Let's offset at the starting time. In order to preserve your server'south resource, hosts fix a limit on the maximum size of a file that can be uploaded.

This maximum, in megabytes, is defined in the upload_max_filesize directive.

The upload_max_filesize directive itself is located in the php.ini file, which is the default server configuration file for applications that crave PHP.

Those 2 things – upload_max_filesize and php.ini – are what the error message you see is referencing.

Information technology's important to remember that this upload limit is not a WordPress setting. However, yous tin can come across this limit in your WordPress site if you get to Media → Add New:

How to check upload limit in WordPress
How to check upload limit in WordPress

Equally you tin see above, Kinsta sets the default limit at 128 MB, which is quite large and unlikely to ever cause issues. However, a lot of other hosts set the default equally small as just two MB or 4 MB.

That ways if you try to upload a file larger than that limit, you're going to see the "the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini", or a similar bulletin like "file_name exceeds the maximum upload size for this site."

How to Fix the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini

In order to fix this error, you demand to increment the file size upload limit. That is, y'all demand to increase the value of the upload_max_filesize directive in your php.ini file.

There are several different ways you can practise this – the verbal method that you choose will depend on your preference and your host'southward configuration.

1. Talk to your host'due south support

While we'll comprehend some methods that you can effort by yourself, the simplest solution is usually to simply reach out to your host's support and ask them to increase the limit for you.

This is a common request, your host's support should know exactly what y'all want, and it should merely take a couple of minutes of your fourth dimension. That's what your host's support is at that place for!

If you host at Kinsta and need to increment your limit beyond the default 128 MB limit, you can achieve out to support on Intercom from anywhere in your Kinsta dashboard:

Kinsta 24x7 support
WordPress host support

2. Edit php.ini via cPanel

If your host uses cPanel, you should exist able to edit your php.ini file and upload_max_filesize directive via the cPanel dashboard.

First, look for the MultiPHP INI Editor:

The MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel
The MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel

Then choose your WordPress site from the drop-down. After that, you'll exist able to edit the upload_max_filesize directive for that site:

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Changing the upload_max_filesize directive in cPanel
Changing the upload_max_filesize directive in cPanel

Increase the value based on your needs.

3. Create or edit php.ini via FTP

Every bit y'all learned to a higher place, the php.ini file controls how your server works for PHP applications.

Unfortunately, based on your host's restrictions, you may or may not exist able to use php.ini files. For that reason, a more reliable approach can sometimes be to use .htaccess (which we'll cover in the next section).

Notwithstanding, yous tin can give this a try first to see if you are allowed to employ php.ini at your host.

To get started, connect to your server via FTP and go to your site'southward root folder.

If yous already see a php.ini file in the root binder, you lot can edit that file. Otherwise, create a new file and name it php.ini:

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

So add or modify the code snippet below:

  • If you created a new file, paste in the code snippet and modify the numbers to adapt your needs.
  • If you lot're editing an existing file, find the same directives in the existing file and alter the numbers to suit your needs.

upload_max_filesize = 12M
post_max_size = 13M
memory_limit = 15M

Adding the code to the php.ini file
Adding the lawmaking to the php.ini file

Some hosts might farther require you to add together the suPHP directive in your site's .htaccess file in lodge for the changes above to really piece of work.

To do this, you tin also edit your .htaccess file via PHP and add the following lawmaking near the top of the file:

<IfModule mod_suphp.c>
suPHP_ConfigPath /dwelling/yourusername/public_html
</IfModule>

Brand certain to supercede yourusername with the actual file path of your site.

four. Increase upload_max_filesize value by editing .htaccess

If direct creating or editing the php.ini file via the methods in a higher place didn't work, y'all can besides try to alter the upload_max_filesize directive past editing your site's .htaccess file.

To get started, connect to your site via FTP and edit the .htaccess file that's located in your site'south root binder.

Then, add the post-obit code snippet, making sure to adjust the values based on your needs:

php_value upload_max_filesize 12M
php_value post_max_size 13M
php_value memory_limit 15M

How to control php.ini file via .htaccess
How to control php.ini file via .htaccess

If you get an internal server error message after adding this code snippet, your server is likely running PHP in CGI manner, which means you cannot utilize these commands in your .htaccess file. Remove the snippets you just added and your site should starting time operation again.

Note – if you're a Kinsta customer, Kinsta uses NGINX, which means your site does not accept an .htaccess file. If you lot need help at Kinsta, nosotros recommend just reaching out to our support team and they'll be able to quickly get things working for yous.

Summary

To check if your changes are working, you can get back to Media → Add New in your WordPress dashboard to encounter if the new maximum upload limit matches the number you lot prepare in your php.ini file. If all goes well, you should run into your new value and you'll be able to upload the file that was giving you problems.

Finally, if nothing you've tried is working and your host's support tin can't help for some reason, you can ever upload the file via FTP as a workaround. FTP has no limits and volition let you upload everything from images to plugins and themes. You can even bulk upload files if needed.

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