WordPress limits the maximum size of files that can be uploaded through the administration panel. Depending on your website configuration, this limit may be too low for larger media files, themes, plugins, or backups.
You can increase the upload limit by modifying the .htaccess file located in the root directory of your website.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Open the .htaccess File
Locate the .htaccess file in the main directory of your WordPress installation. In most cases, this is the public_html directory.
If the file is hidden, make sure your FTP client is configured to display hidden files.
Step 2: Add the Upload Limit Directive
Add the following line to the .htaccess file:
php_value upload_max_filesize 2048M
This example increases the maximum upload file size to 2 GB.
Save the file after making the change.
What to Expect
Once the changes have been applied, WordPress should allow files up to the specified size to be uploaded through the administration panel.
In some cases, the upload limit may also be restricted by other PHP settings, such as:
post_max_sizememory_limitmax_execution_time
If the new limit is not reflected in WordPress after updating the .htaccess file, additional PHP configuration changes may be required.
How to Verify the New Limit
To confirm the current upload limit:
- Log in to the WordPress administration panel.
- Navigate to Media → Add New.
- Check the maximum upload size displayed below the upload area.
Summary
The maximum file size allowed in WordPress can be increased by editing the .htaccess file and adjusting the upload_max_filesize value. If the change does not take effect, other PHP configuration limits may also need to be updated.