Meilisearch Payload Too Large Error

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Workaround available Self-hosted, Meilisearch Cloud Updated November 15, 2026How we research

Quick answer

Requests above the server payload limit (default 100 MB) are rejected with payload_too_large. Split the file into batches or compress it.

Most likely fix: Split or compress

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

  1. 1. Split or compress

    1. Split into batches of tens of thousands of documents (NDJSON works well)
    2. Compress with gzip, deflate or br and set Content-Encoding
    3. Self-hosted: raise the limit with --http-payload-size-limit
    4. Cloud: Enterprise accounts can request a higher limit
    Did this fix it?

Symptoms

Adding documents returns payload_too_large or 413.

Why it happens

  • Document file bigger than the default 100 MB limit

This guide also covers

  • meilisearch payload too large
  • meilisearch 413
  • meilisearch http payload size limit

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