WordPress Image Upload 'HTTP Error' or 'Exceeds the Maximum Upload Size'

How to fix it

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

1. 1. Check your current limits

   1. Tools > Site Health > Info > Media Handling shows the max file size and image library in use.
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Raise PHP limits

   1. Set upload_max_filesize and post_max_size (post_max_size at least as large) in your host's PHP settings, or in a .user.ini file in the WordPress root. Many guides suggest 64M as a start, and memory_limit of 256M.
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Raise memory and resize images first

   1. Add define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); to wp-config.php and shrink very large photos before uploading.
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Switch image library or check disk

   1. Some users fix the HTTP error by switching from Imagick to GD with a small plugin or by asking the host to fix Imagick. Confirm disk space and that wp-content/uploads is writable.
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Rule out plugins

   1. Deactivate plugins and retry the upload, then rename the file to plain letters and numbers.
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Uploading to the Media Library fails with 'HTTP error', 'An error occurred in the upload', or 'The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive'.

Why it happens

• upload_max_filesize or post_max_size too low
• PHP memory too low for resizing large images
• Imagick problems on shared hosting
• Full disk or bad folder permissions on wp-content/uploads
• A plugin or firewall interfering
• Special characters in the file name

This guide also covers

• wordpress http error image upload
• wordpress exceeds maximum upload size
• wordpress media upload not working
• wordpress an error occurred in the upload

Other WordPress errors

• WordPress White Screen of Death
• WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection
• WordPress Critical Error: 'There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website'
• WordPress 500 Internal Server Error
• WordPress Too Many Redirects (ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS)
• WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode: 'Briefly Unavailable for Scheduled Maintenance'
• WordPress 'Allowed Memory Size Exhausted' Fatal Error
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