How to Increase Upload Size Limit in WordPress & cPanel (Step-by-Step)

If you're trying to upload a theme, plugin, or media file and see an error like “file exceeds upload_max_filesize”, your upload limit is too low. In this guide, you’ll learn multiple ways to increase the WordPress upload size limit.

Video Tutorial

Why This Happens

By default, hosting servers limit file upload size for security and performance reasons. Common limits are:

• 2MB
• 8MB
• 64MB

This can block large themes, plugins, or media uploads.

Method 1: Increase Upload Limit via cPanel (Recommended)

Step 1: Open Select PHP Version

1. Log in to your cPanel
2. Go to Select PHP Version
3. Click on Options

Step 2: Update PHP Settings

Change these values:

• upload_max_filesize → 256M
• post_max_size → 256M
• memory_limit → 512M
• max_execution_time → 300

Click Save

Method 2: Edit .htaccess File

1. Go to File Manager → public_html
2. Find .htaccess
3. Add this code:

php_value upload_max_filesize 256M
php_value post_max_size 256M
php_value memory_limit 512M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Save the file.

Method 3: Edit php.ini File

1. In File Manager, locate php.ini (or create one)
2. Add or update:

upload_max_filesize = 256M
post_max_size = 256M
memory_limit = 512M
max_execution_time = 300

Method 4: Increase Limit via wp-config.php

1. Open wp-config.php
2. Add this line:

@ini_set('upload_max_size' , '256M');
@ini_set('post_max_size','256M');
@ini_set('memory_limit','512M');

Method 5: Contact Hosting Support

If none of the above methods work:

• Your hosting provider may have restrictions
• Ask them to increase upload limits from the server side

How to Verify Upload Limit

1. Go to WordPress Dashboard
2. Navigate to Media → Add New
3. Check the maximum upload size at the bottom

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Changing only one value (you must update all related limits)
• Setting values too low
• Syntax errors in .htaccess or php.ini
• Not saving changes properly

Pro Tips

• Set upload limit based on your needs (e.g., 128MB–512MB)
• Avoid extremely high values on shared hosting
• Use optimized images to reduce file sizes

Want Higher Limits Without Hassle?

Some hosting providers restrict upload sizes heavily.

👉 Choose WordPress hosting with higher limits and optimized PHP settings

Conclusion

Increasing the upload size limit in WordPress is simple if you know where to change the settings. Using cPanel is the easiest method, but you have multiple options depending on your hosting environment.