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How to fix the maximum upload file size error when installing a plugin

If, when installing UpdraftPlus, you get an error message saying that your webserver has configured a limit for uploaded file sizes, and that the plugin is too large, then you can use any of these solutions…

Install the free “Upload Larger Plugins” plugin from the WordPress plugin repository. Just go to Plugins >> Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for it, install it, and activate it.

2. Install the plugin manually:​

  • Unzip it on your PC/Mac (you will then get a folder called ‘updraftplus’)
  • Use FTP to upload it into your webspace, in the wp-content/plugins folder, so that it becomes wp-content/plugins/updraftplus.
  • Navigate to your WP dashboard to activate it.

Learn more about how WordPress installs plugins here.

3. Increase the configured upload size limit:​

if your web hosting allows you to, by editing a php.ini file. Use FTP to create a file called php.ini (or edit the existing one, if there is one) in the same directory of your WordPress site, with these contents (UpdraftPlus is around 7MB):

; Maximum allowed size for uploaded files.
upload_max_filesize = 40M

; Must be greater than or equal to upload_max_filesize
post_max_size = 40M

If that fails, try placing the php.ini file in the wp-admin folder instead. If that fails, you’ll need to ask your web hosting company for guidance.