Increase WordPress Upload Limit

The Problem

WordPress rejects a file as "exceeds the maximum upload size" even though the file isn't unreasonably large — the limit is set lower than you need, somewhere between PHP, your web server and WordPress itself.

About this problem

The maximum upload size in WordPress is actually controlled by several settings stacked on top of each other — PHP's upload_max_filesize and post_max_size, sometimes a server or hosting-panel limit on top of that, and occasionally a plugin enforcing its own cap. WordPress shows whichever is the smallest of all of them, which is why just changing one setting sometimes doesn't seem to work.

This comes up most often when uploading large images, video files, or bulk import files larger than typical shared hosting defaults allow.

What's Included

• Identifying every layer currently limiting the upload size (PHP, server, hosting panel, plugin)
• Raising the limit at each relevant layer to a sensible, consistent value
• Testing with a file at the new target size to confirm it actually works end to end
• Flagging if your specific hosting plan enforces a hard cap that can't be raised without a plan change

What's NOT Included

• Hosting plan upgrades if your host enforces a hard limit — that's a decision and cost for you
• Fixing problems caused by extremely large files timing out for other reasons (slow connections, server timeouts)
• Ongoing increases every time you need a slightly bigger limit — this sets a sensible ceiling once

How It Works

1. Check the current effective upload limit shown in WordPress's Media settings, which reflects the smallest of all layered limits.
2. Check and raise PHP's upload_max_filesize and post_max_size values via php.ini, .htaccess, or the hosting control panel, whichever applies.
3. Check for a separate server-level (Nginx client_max_body_size, Apache LimitRequestBody) or hosting-panel cap and raise that too if present.
4. Check for any plugin enforcing its own, lower upload limit on top of the server settings.
5. Test an upload at the new target size to confirm every layer is now consistent.

In practice: you buy the service, send over whatever access or details the job needs, I investigate and do the work, and you confirm it's resolved before we call it done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does WordPress say my file exceeds the maximum upload size when it's not that big?

WordPress shows the smallest of several stacked limits (PHP, web server, hosting panel), so even if one setting looks generous, a smaller one elsewhere is still capping it.

Can I increase the WordPress upload limit myself?

Sometimes, if you have access to php.ini or .htaccess and your host allows overrides — many shared hosts restrict this, which is when it needs doing at the hosting-panel or server level instead.

Why does my host say they can't raise the upload limit?

Some budget shared hosting plans enforce a hard cap for resource reasons that genuinely can't be overridden without moving to a higher plan or a VPS.

Does increasing the upload limit make my site slower?

No, raising the limit doesn't affect performance — it just allows larger files through; the upload itself still takes time proportional to the file size and your connection.

Is there a maximum upload size WordPress itself enforces regardless of server settings?

No, WordPress doesn't impose its own separate hard cap — it only reports the lowest limit already set by PHP, the server, or a plugin.