How to Increase Media File Maximum Upload Size in WordPress

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In WordPress, when you try to upload a bigger size media file, you get a message “file exceeds the maximum upload size for this site“. Most of the shared hosting providers limit the file size for uploading in PHP configuration of the server which is shared equally with the users in order to balance the resources. In case, you want to upload high-resolution images or videos, you need to manually increase media file maximum upload size.

Increasing upload size in WordPress is a very easy process. In this tutorial, we will show you how to increase media file maximum upload size in WordPress.

How to Check Your Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?

By default, WordPress displays the maximum allowed upload file size. To check this, go to Media> Add New and after the box, you can see what is the maximum size of a file you can upload through the media uploader.

Here’s an example below:

From the above picture, you can see that the maximum upload file size of the site is 8 MB.

How to Increase Media File Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?

There are several ways you can change upload limit in WordPress. We will show you 4 different methods and you can apply any of them that you are comfortable with.

Method 1, Edit Your .htaccess File

To increase WordPress upload limit, log into your web hosting cPanel account and go to the root directory where your WordPress is installed.

Open up the .htaccess file and add the following code at the end.

[code]

php_value upload_max_filesize 256M
php_value post_max_size 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

[/code]

Once added, don’t forget to save the file.

Now go back to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Media> Add New and check whether the upload limit is changed.

Method 2, Create or Modify php.ini File

If the above .htaccess solution didn’t increase WordPress upload limit, then you need to apply this php.ini method.

First, log in to your hosting cPanel account and go to the root folder. Find the php.ini file. If there is no php.ini file, simply create a new one.

Edit the php.ini file and add the following lines.

[code]

memory_limit = 256M

post_max_size = 256M

upload_max_filesize = 256M

[/code]

Once done, save the file.

Now recheck your maximum upload file size by going to Media> Add New.

Method 3, Increase WordPress Media Upload Limit from cPanel

Another simple way you can change the WordPress upload limit is from your cPanel.

After that, a PHP extensions page will open. From the right corner, click on Switch to PHP Options.

(We also recommend you to upgrade the PHP to the latest version.)

From the PHP Selector Options, change the values. See the screenshot below.

This will increase the WordPress upload limit to 256 MB.

Once done, click on Save.

Method 4, Using MultiPHP INI Editor

If you are using cPanel hosting, then you can easily increase WordPress upload limit using the MultiPHP INI Editor.

Under the Configure PHP INI basic settings click the drop-down menu and select your domain.

Change the value upload_max_filesize to something bigger.

Once done, click on the Apply button to save the changes.

Method 5, Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above solutions helped to increase WordPress file upload limit, it’s time to reach out your hosting provider.

Many times your host doesn’t allow you to manually change WordPress upload limit. Simply create a support ticket and ask them to increase the upload limit to something bigger (256MB).

Once done, go back to the Media> Add New and check whether the maximum upload size is increased. See the example below.

That’s it. This is how you can increase media file maximum upload size in WordPress. In this tutorial, we have covered 4 different ways to change the WordPress upload limit. What solution worked for you? Do let us know in the comment section.