When you want to upload a large file, WordPress gives you the option to upload it in pieces. But if you’re trying to upload something really big, the maximum size for an individual file attachment might be too small. This is typically due to the low upload size limit imposed by WordPress. If you’re hosting your own website and want to be able to upload larger files, you’ll need to increase the Maximum Upload Size in cPanel.
You have just created a new website and are in the process of uploading your first few files. Suddenly, you receive an error message that says your file is too large. What do you do? One way is to install a plugin that will increase the maximum upload size for you. There are a number of plugins available that can do this, and many of them are free. Another option is to change the settings in your cPanel account.
How to increase Maximum Upload size in cPanel
There are a few ways to increase the maximum upload size in cPanel. Depending on your hosting provider and server, however, some methods may work better than others. But first we have to know what the maximum upload size is in WordPress and why do I need it? So let’s start it.
What Is the Maximum Upload Size in WordPress?
In WordPress, the maximum file size that can be uploaded is usually between 2 Mb and 256 Mb. The Max limit is 2GB, and if you exceed this size, your file will not upload and WordPress will give you an error.
define( ‘WP_MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE’, ‘256MB’ );

The maximum upload size is determined by:
upload_max_filesize: This is the maximum size of a SINGLE file.
post_max_size: This is the maximum size of the request’s entire body (which may include multiple files as well as other data).
memory_limit: It’s the maximum amount of server memory a PHP script can use. According to the PHP manual, “this specifies the maximum amount of memory a script is allowed to allocate in bytes.” This keeps bad scripts from consuming all of a server’s RAM.
max_execution_time : This lets you set how long a script can run before it has to stop. The default time is 30 seconds, but you can set it to anything else. It’s called “max input time,” and it tells the script how long it can take to read input data, like POST and GET. In most cases, this is increased to allow for bigger file uploads.
max_input_time:The default time is 30 seconds, but you can set it to anything else. It’s called “max input time,” and it tells the script how long it can take to read input data, like POST and GET. In most cases, this is increased to allow for bigger file uploads. To use max execution time instead of -1, set the value to 1.
Why Do I Need to Increase the WP Upload Max Size?
For a variety of reasons, you may need to increase the maximum upload file size on your WordPress site. Here are some of the most common:
- A lot of people have websites that are very big, and if you want to install a big theme or plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard, you might need to change the WP upload max size.
- This allows you to upload high-resolution new images, videos, audio, and other media on a regular basis. It can fill up quickly. By increasing the WP upload max size, you’ll be able to add new content without having to worry about exceeding your site’s storage limit.
- Increasing your site’s upload max size is an easy way to improve the performance of your WordPress site. Larger files can take longer to upload, which can slow down the loading of your pages.
- When it comes to selecting an image or video to use as your website’s background or header, you want to make sure that you select something that is high quality and will look great on your site. However, if you are trying to upload a large video or image, you may find that your site’s upload max size is preventing you from doing so. This can be frustrating, but there are a few things that you can do to increase your WP upload max size.
- Increasing your WP upload max size can have negative consequences for both your site and your visitors. For example, If you plan to sell digital files such as e-books, photographs, videos, themes, and plugins directly from your website, it may slow down or even crash. Additionally, if visitors are trying to access a page that’s been slowed down by too many large files, they may not be able to view it properly.
Now, follow these few steps that will help you increase your maximum upload size.
Step 1: Access your cPanel dashboard
A lot of web hosting companies give you a dashboard called cPanel to help you set up your server and website. Through its interface, you can easily set the maximum upload file size.
So, you have to access your cPanel dashboard.

Step 2: Select PHP Version
The PHP Version can be found in the Softwear Area on the majority of the cPanel Dashboard. If you can’t find it, try looking for it in the advanced area.
Here, you can change your server’s current PHP version. Click on the Select PHP Version.

Step 3: PHP Options Panel
Click on the Options tab in the navigation menu to go to the PHP Options panel.

Step 4: Max Values Set
After that, you will find lots of PHP extensions for the current PHP version.Scroll down to find the upload_max_filesize, post_max_size, memory_limit, max_execution_time, and max_input_time parameters. Here you can set the value on the basis of the current hosting plan.

Note: There is no need to save changes if you are using the latest versions of cPanel. If not, you have to click the save changes button
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Final Words
Following the steps outlined in this article will help increase your maximum upload size in cPanel. This can be a great help when you need to upload large files or when you are dealing with a lot of traffic on your website. remember to keep your cPanel account updated with the latest security patches and max upload size limits. So always test any changes you make to your website to ensure that they do not cause any negative effects.