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Wordpress stands as one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) globally, thanks to its flexibility and user-friendly interface. Nonetheless, users may occasionally encounter issues when uploading files. One common error users face is file size limitations during uploads. This article focuses on two crucial parameters in the PHP configuration file (php.ini) that affect file uploads: upload_max_filesize and post_max_size.

PHP Configuration Issue

A fundamental problem users encounter is that upload_max_filesize and post_max_size in php.ini are set to a low value. By default, upload_max_filesize might be set to 2 MB, which is inadequate for many files, especially high-resolution images and videos.

Difference Between upload_max_filesize and post_max_size

  • upload_max_filesize determines the maximum file size that can be uploaded via PHP. As mentioned, the default value is often set to 2 MB.
  • post_max_size limits the maximum size of all data sent via the POST method in PHP. This includes not only files but also other form data. It's crucial for post_max_size to always be larger than upload_max_filesize to allow uploads of the maximum permitted size.

Resolving the Issue

To increase the file size limit for uploads, it's necessary to adjust both these values in the php.ini file. For example, you can set:

  • upload_max_filesize = 64M
  • post_max_size = 64M

After making these changes, it's recommended to restart the web server to apply the new configuration. It's important to note that the exact steps for restarting the server may vary depending on the hosting solution used.

Other Possible Solutions

If you don't have access to php.ini, or if your changes aren't effective for some reason, there are other ways to influence the maximum file upload size:

  1. Using .htaccess: Some servers allow PHP configuration through the .htaccess file. You can add lines such as php_value upload_max_filesize 64M and php_value post_max_size 64M.

  2. WordPress Plugins: There are plugins available that can help manage uploaded file sizes without the need for manual configuration file editing. However, these plugins may have limited functionality depending on the server configuration.

If you encounter issues that you can't resolve, it's advisable to contact the technical support of your web hosting, which should be able to make the necessary changes for you or provide specific instructions for your hosting environment.