If you’ve ever tried uploading a large file to your website and received an error like:
“The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini”,
it means your hosting account has a lower file upload limit set in PHP.
This guide shows you how to increase the upload limit in cPanel easily — no coding knowledge required
Step 1: Log in to Your cPanel Account
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Go to your cPanel login page.
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Example:
https://yourdomain.com/cpanel
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Enter your username and password to access your hosting dashboard.
Step 2: Locate the “Select PHP Version” or “MultiPHP INI Editor”
Depending on your hosting environment, you can manage PHP settings from either:
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Select PHP Version (for CloudLinux environments), or
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MultiPHP INI Editor (for general cPanel environments)
Step 3: Open the PHP Options or INI Editor
If using Select PHP Version:
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Click on “Options” after selecting your current PHP version.
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Scroll down to find
upload_max_filesize.
If using MultiPHP INI Editor:
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Choose your domain from the dropdown list.
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You’ll see editable PHP directives including
upload_max_filesize.
Step 4: Increase the upload_max_filesize Value
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Locate
upload_max_filesize -
Change it from the default (e.g. 2M) to your preferred size (e.g. 64M or 128M)
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Optionally, also adjust:
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post_max_size→ should be equal or larger thanupload_max_filesize -
memory_limit→ should be larger thanpost_max_size
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Example:
Step 5: Save Changes
After modifying the values, click “Save” or “Apply”.
Changes take effect immediately.
Step 6: Verify the New Upload Limit
To confirm that the new upload limit is applied:
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Create a new PHP file in your public_html directory named
info.php -
Add this line inside:
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Visit
https://yourdomain.com/info.phpin your browser. -
Search for upload_max_filesize — your new value should be visible.
Common Issues
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Still showing old limits?
→ Try changing values in both Select PHP Version and MultiPHP INI Editor. -
Website still not accepting large uploads?
→ Check your CMS (e.g. WordPress) settings — some platforms have their own upload limit inside their dashboard.
