Increasing Your WordPress Upload Size

Are you a WordPress user struggling with the limitations of your upload size? You’re not alone. Many users find themselves in a bind when they try to upload large files or media, only to be met with an error message. But don’t worry, there’s a solution. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how you can increase your WordPress upload size, allowing you to add more content to your site without any hassle.

Understanding the WordPress Upload Size Limit

Before we delve into the solutions, it’s important to understand why WordPress has an upload size limit in the first place. The limit is primarily a security measure, designed to prevent users from uploading potentially harmful files to their sites. However, it can also be a hindrance when you’re trying to upload large files or media.

By default, the maximum upload size in WordPress ranges from 2MB to 150MB, depending on the settings of your hosting provider. This limit isn’t usually a problem for most users, but if you’re working with large files, it can quickly become a bottleneck.

Checking Your Current Upload Size Limit

Before you start making changes, it’s a good idea to check your current upload size limit. This can be done easily from your WordPress dashboard. Simply navigate to Media > Add New, and you’ll see the maximum upload size displayed at the bottom of the page.

If the current limit is too low for your needs, don’t worry. There are several ways to increase the WordPress upload size, and we’ll explore these methods in the following sections.

Increasing the WordPress Upload Size

Method 1: Update Your PHP.ini File

The PHP.ini file is a configuration file for running applications that require PHP. It’s one of the first places to look when you want to increase the WordPress upload size. Here’s how you can do it:

First, access your website’s root folder using an FTP client or your hosting provider’s file manager. Then, locate the PHP.ini file. If you can’t find it, create a new one. Open the file and add the following lines of code:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Save the changes and close the file. Now, try uploading a file to your WordPress site again. If the upload is successful, you’ve successfully increased the upload size.

Method 2: Edit Your .htaccess File

Another way to increase the WordPress upload size is by editing the .htaccess file. This method is a bit more technical, so proceed with caution. Here’s how to do it:

Access your website’s root directory and locate the .htaccess file. Open it and add the following lines of code:

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 close the file. Try uploading a file to your WordPress site to see if the upload size has increased.

Method 3: Use a WordPress Plugin

If the above methods seem too technical, you can use a WordPress plugin to increase the upload size. Plugins like ‘Increase Max Upload Filesize’ can help you increase the upload size with just a few clicks.

Simply install and activate the plugin, then navigate to the plugin’s settings page. Here, you can set your desired maximum upload size. Save the changes, and you’re done!

Conclusion

Increasing the WordPress upload size can seem daunting, especially if you’re not familiar with editing your site’s files. However, with the right guidance and a bit of patience, it’s a task that can be accomplished by anyone.

Remember, always backup your site before making any changes to its files. This way, you can easily restore your site if something goes wrong. Happy uploading!