How To Increase Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress

Introduction: Why File Upload Limits Matter for Indian Businesses

WordPress is the backbone of millions of business websites in India—used by manufacturers, consultants, service providers, retailers, educational institutes, and startups alike. From uploading product catalogs and training videos to adding high-resolution images and client documents, file uploads are a daily operational requirement.

However, many business owners face a common frustration:

“The file exceeds the maximum upload size for this site.”

This error appears when WordPress restricts the size of files you can upload through the Media Library or page builders. For businesses handling brochures, portfolios, compliance documents, or marketing creatives, these limits slow down work and create dependency on technical teams.

Understanding how to increase the maximum upload file size in WordPress is not just a technical task—it is a business efficiency requirement.

This guide explains the issue clearly and provides practical, safe, and professional solutions suitable for Indian hosting environments.

Understanding WordPress Upload Limits

WordPress itself does not decide the upload limit alone. The final file size limit is controlled by three layers:

1. PHP Configuration (Server Level)
2. Web Server Settings (Apache/Nginx)
3. WordPress Application Settings

Most Indian hosting providers set conservative defaults (2MB–10MB) to protect shared servers. While this is understandable, it is often insufficient for business usage.

How to Check Your Current Upload Limit

Log in to your WordPress Dashboard and go to:

Media → Add New

You will see a line similar to:

“Maximum upload file size: 8 MB”

Common Business Scenarios Affected

Indian businesses often face this issue in situations such as:

• Uploading company profile PDFs (20–50MB)
• Adding product demo videos
• Uploading scanned GST, compliance, or tender documents
• Uploading high-quality marketing creatives
• Managing e-learning or training materials

In regulated industries like finance, manufacturing, education, and healthcare, file size restrictions can delay approvals, client delivery, and internal workflows.

Method 1: Increase Upload Limit Using php.ini (Recommended for VPS/Dedicated Hosting)

If you have access to your hosting file manager or server, this is the most stable solution.

Steps:

1. Log in to your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)
2. Locate or create a file named:

php.ini

1. Add or modify these lines:

upload_max_filesize = 128M
post_max_size = 128M
memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 300

1. Save the file.
2. Restart PHP from the hosting panel if available.

Method 2: Using .htaccess (Apache Servers)

This method works well on many shared hosting platforms in India.

Steps:

1. Open your website’s root directory.
2. Edit the .htaccess file.
3. Add the following lines:

php_value upload_max_filesize 128M
php_value post_max_size 128M
php_value memory_limit 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

1. Save and refresh your WordPress dashboard.

Method 3: Using wp-config.php

This is helpful when server-level access is limited.

Steps:

1. Open wp-config.php in the root directory.
2. Add the following above the line:

/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */

@ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '128M');
@ini_set('post_max_size', '128M');
@ini_set('memory_limit', '256M');
@ini_set('max_execution_time', '300');
@ini_set('max_input_time', '300');

Method 4: Using cPanel PHP Settings (Beginner-Friendly)

Most Indian shared hosts provide a visual interface.

Steps:

1. Login to cPanel.
2. Open “Select PHP Version” or “MultiPHP INI Editor.”
3. Modify:

• upload_max_filesize
• post_max_size
• memory_limit
• max_execution_time

1. Save changes.

Method 5: Contact Hosting Support (Safest for Non-Technical Users)

If none of the above methods work, your host may have hard limits.

Send a support request:

“Please increase PHP upload_max_filesize and post_max_size to at least 128MB for my domain.”

Most Indian providers can apply this within minutes.

Business Impact of Increasing Upload Size

From a business management perspective, higher upload limits result in:

• Faster content publishing
• Reduced dependency on IT teams
• Improved marketing execution
• Better client servicing
• Efficient document management

For agencies, consultants, and service firms, it directly improves turnaround time and professionalism.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Increasing Only One Parameter
   • All related values must be aligned.
2. Setting Unrealistically High Limits
   • 128MB–256MB is sufficient for most business use.
3. Ignoring Server Timeouts
   • Large uploads need higher execution time.
4. Not Testing After Changes
   • Always re-check Media upload screen.

Best Practices Used by Professional IT Teams

• Maintain balanced server limits instead of extreme values.
• Monitor disk usage and backup sizes.
• Compress images and PDFs before upload.
• Use optimized formats (WebP, compressed PDF).
• Implement file management policies for staff.

These practices ensure performance, security, and scalability.

Security & Performance Considerations

Higher upload limits must be combined with:

• Updated WordPress core and plugins
• Malware scanning
• User role control
• Firewall rules

Unrestricted uploads can expose businesses to risk if not managed responsibly.

Troubleshooting If Changes Don’t Work

• Check PHP version compatibility.
• Verify which php.ini is active.
• Hosting-level restrictions may override local settings.
• Nginx servers require server config changes.

In such cases, hosting support intervention is necessary.

Conclusion: Practical Advice for Business Owners

File upload limits are not just a technical inconvenience—they affect operational efficiency, content delivery, and business responsiveness.

Every professional WordPress installation should be configured to support real-world business file sizes.

By applying the methods explained above, Indian businesses can ensure smoother workflows, faster publishing, and better digital asset management.

A well-configured website is not only functional—it reflects operational maturity and technical reliability.