How To Fix Maximum Upload And PHP Memory Limit Issues In WordPress?

Typical warning message related to upload and memory limit

While working on your WordPress website, you might sometimes see the following warning about the WordPress maximum upload PHP memory limit issue; learn how to fix it.

• Firstly, the Warning post-content-length of bytes exceeds the limit.
• Secondly, the uploaded File exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini.
• It exceeds the maximum upload size for this site.
• Fatal error: The allowed memory size of 12345678 bytes is exhausted (tried to allocate 2345678 bytes) in /home/your-username/public_html/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 1000.
• 413 Error: Request Entity Too Large.
• Finally, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

=> Those messages typically relate to your website’s server settings for maximum upload size or memory limit.

File exceeds the upload_max_filesize

You may have encountered the following error message when installing your Customizr Pro Theme.

The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini

Please see the following screenshot.

Or the following error when you are uploading an image.

..exceeds the maximum upload size for this site.

Please see the following screenshot.

This happens when your PHP Upload Max Filesize (upload_max_filesize) set in your php.ini File is smaller than the file size of Theme or the file size of the image you are trying to upload.

When writing, the Theme (zip file) file size is 11.2M.

Look into your System Information for the value of PHP Upload Max Filesize. You will need to increase it to a higher and healthier weight.

Solutions to Fix Maximum Upload Memory Limit Issues In WordPress

The following are some solutions available to fix your exceeded upload max filesize issue in WordPress.

Contact your Hosting Company

Yes, this is the most preferred way. Contact your hosting company and show them a screenshot of your error or write them the error message. Ask them to assist in increasing the following values until you can install your Customizr Theme or upload your image. Your hosting company may have restrictions on these values.

memory_limit
upload_max_size
post_max_size
upload_max_filesize
max_execution_time
max_input_time

Preferably to the following values.

memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_size = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
upload_max_filesize = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 1000

See the video tutorial to fix maximum upload memory limit issues In WordPress

Editing php.ini File

The  php.ini File is the default PHP configuration file. Most Shared Hosting Company does not allow access to this File. If you are sure you have access to the php.ini file on your server, you may proceed with the following steps.

1. Access it using your FTP program. (how to use FTP software with WordPress ?)
2. Backup a copy of this File before attempting to edit it.
3. Please open it and find the following values, one at a time (They are located at different lines within the File)

   memory_limit upload_max_size post_max_size upload_max_filesize max_execution_time max_input_time 

4. Preferably, edit them to the following values.

   memory_limit = 256M upload_max_size = 64M post_max_size = 64M upload_max_filesize = 64M max_execution_time = 300 max_input_time = 1000 

5. Using .htaccess file

In WordPress, there is a .htaccess file. WordPress uses this File to manipulate how Apache (server) serves files from its root directory and subdirectories. Therefore, this File is essential. Do not edit what’s initially written in this File. You can add some directives at the end of the File to increase the PHP Upload Max Filesize. Learn more about the htaccess File in WordPress here.

1. Use your favorite FTP program to access your WordPress installation.
2. Go to the root directory, and it’s the directory where you can find your wp-config.php File. In addition, you should be able to find your .htaccess File.
3. Download a copy of it onto your computer to save as a backup.
4. Please open it and add the following into a new line at the end of the File.

   php_value memory_limit 256 php_value upload_max_filesize 64M php_value post_max_size 64M php_value max_execution_time 300 php_value max_input_time 1000 

5. Save your changes and overwrite the .htaccess File on your server to increase the memory limit.
6. Go back to your System pieces of information and check if your values have changed. If not, you should contact your hosting company for assistance editing these values in your php.ini File.

Fatal Error: Memory Exhaust

Suppose you are experiencing a white screen on your site or at intermittent and on different webpages. Set WP_DEBUG to true in your wp-config.php. If you are seeing something similar to the following error message on screen or in your server error log

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 12345678 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 2345678 bytes) in /home/your-username/public_html/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 1000

This means your PHP does not have enough memory to work correctly.

Solutions

The following are some solutions available to fix your memory exhaust issue.

Contact your Hosting Company to fix maximum upload memory limit issues In WordPress

As mentioned above, this is the preferred way. Show them a screenshot of your error, or write them the error message. Ask them to assist in increasing the PHP memory until you can get your site working correctly.

Amending your wp-config.php

You can try adding a memory define to WordPress in its wp-config.php, but this will not work if your defined memory exceeds your actual server allocated memory.

1. Use your FTP program and navigate to your WordPress root directory.
2. Find your wp-config.php and download a copy to your computer as a backup.
3. Open up wp-config.php using your plain text editor or code editor.
4. Insert the following code at the end of the File to increase the memory limit.

   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); 

5. Save and upload back your wp-config.php to your WordPress installation.
6. Clear your browser cache and re-load your website.
7. If you are still experiencing errors, you should contact your web hosting company for assistance.

Editing php.ini File

Suppose you have access to the php.ini File. Then, you can try the following.

1. Using the FTP program, navigate to your hosting server and look for the php.ini File.
2. Download and keep a backup copy.
3. Open it using your code or plain text editor.
4. Find the following.

   memory_limit 

5. Change the value to a much higher value. For example.

   memory_limit = 256M 

6. Save and upload back your php.ini to your WordPress installation.
7. Clear your browser cache and re-load your website.
8. If you are still experiencing errors, you should contact your web hosting company for assistance and ask for more memory limit.

Using .htaccess file

1. Use your FTP program to access your WordPress installation.
2. Go to the root directory. It’s the directory where you can find your wp-config.php File. In addition, you should be able to find your .htaccess File.
3. Download a copy of it onto your computer to save as a backup.
4. Please open it and add the following into a new line at the end of the File.

   php_value memory_limit 256 

5. Save your changes and overwrite the .htaccess File on your server.
6. Go back to your System Information and check if your values have changed. If not, you should contact your hosting company for assistance editing these values in your php.ini File.

That’s all for this documentation. I hope it helps!