WooCommerce: “uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize” Error

You may have seen this error at least once, if you have used WordPress. When installing a theme, plugin or uploading a image or file, you may find this dreaded message on your screen.

Well, it has nothing to do with themes or plugins. The issue is with your server settings which limit the maximum size for uploaded files.

It’s a common error and it can be easily fixed. This error message is an indication of that the file you are trying to upload is larger than your web host allows (WordPress default file upload size is 2 MB).

Solution is easy, you need to increase your file size upload limit. You can do it yourself or ask your web host support team to increase is for you.

Ways you can fix it:

1. Updating Your php.ini file
2. Editing Your .htaccess file
3. Editing your wp-config.php File
4. Contacting your Web Hosting Support

Updating Your php.ini file

Each server has a php.ini file, typically can be found in wp-admin folder. You need to edit open that file and write your new memory limit.

Follow these steps to edit the php.ini file

1. Log in to your web hosting account and go to cPanel
2. Click on FILES -> File Manager
3. Select “Document Root for:” from the Directory Selection and click on Go. (Make sure the checkbox for Show Hidden Files is checked)
4. Go to your wp-admin folder
5. Find a file called php.ini or php5.ini. (If you don’t see any php.ini, create a file titled php.ini)
6. Open the php.ini file. Find these lines in the php.ini file and replace it with the content below
7. Save the changes you made to the php.ini file
8. Now refresh your website and try uploading the file again.

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Above settings may vary based on what web hosting company you are using.

Editing Your .htaccess file

If the above editing PHP.ini file doesn’t work for you, then you can edit your .htaccess file to fix this issue.

Follow these steps to edit your .htaccess file:

1. Log in to your web hosting account and go to cPanel
2. Click on FILES -> File Manager
3. Select “Document Root for:” from the Directory Selection and click on Go. (Make sure the checkbox for Show Hidden Files is checked)
4. Find the .httaccess file.
5. Open the .htaccess file and or edit the following code at the bottom.
6. Save the changes you made to the .htaccess file

php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Editing your wp-config.php File

If neither of these solutions works for you, you can try editing the wp-config.php file located at your websites root folder.

1. Log in to your web hosting account and go to cPanel
2. Click on FILES -> File Manager
3. Select “Document Root for:” from the Directory Selection and click on Go. (Make sure the checkbox for Show Hidden Files is checked)
4. Add the following to the very bottom of wp-config.php

@ini_set( 'upload_max_size' , '20M' );
@ini_set( 'post_max_size', '13M');
@ini_set( 'memory_limit', '15M' );

Contact Web Host Support

If none of these solutions works for you, please consult your web host. Your Web host may have configured their server in a way that prevent you to increase file size.