> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to Increase the PHP Upload Size and Memory Limit > Increase upload_max_filesize, post_max_size and memory_limit in the PHP-FPM php.ini, set client_max_body_size in Nginx, then restart PHP-FPM and reload Nginx. To increase the PHP upload size, edit the PHP-FPM `php.ini` (on Ubuntu 24.04: `/etc/php/8.3/fpm/php.ini`) and set `upload_max_filesize = 64M`, `post_max_size = 72M` and `memory_limit = 256M`. Then allow the same size in Nginx with `client_max_body_size 64M;`. Restart PHP-FPM with `sudo systemctl restart php8.3-fpm` and reload Nginx. PHP's defaults are 2 MB uploads and 8 MB posts; Nginx's is 1 MB. | Difficulty | Time | Works on | Needs | | - | - | - | - | | Beginner | 5 minutes | Ubuntu 22.04 / 24.04, Debian 12 / 13, AlmaLinux / Rocky 9 / 10 | sudo, Nginx or Apache with PHP | ## Before you start * Use a user with `sudo`. If you are `root`, leave out `sudo`. * An upload passes three limits. The smallest one wins: 1. **The web server**: Nginx `client_max_body_size` (default 1 MB), Apache `LimitRequestBody` (default 1 GiB). 2. **PHP**: `upload_max_filesize` (default 2 MB) and `post_max_size` (default 8 MB). 3. **Your app**, such as a WordPress plugin or a form library. ## Which php.ini do I edit? PHP for the web and PHP on the command line read different files. `php --ini` shows only the command-line file, so use this table: | Setup | File | | - | - | | Nginx or Apache with PHP-FPM, Ubuntu / Debian | `/etc/php/8.3/fpm/php.ini` (use your version, for example `8.4` on Debian 13) | | Apache with `mod_php`, Ubuntu / Debian | `/etc/php/8.3/apache2/php.ini` | | AlmaLinux / Rocky (PHP-FPM) | `/etc/php.ini` | | Command line (Composer, cron) | Shown by `php --ini` | ## How to raise the PHP limits **1. Edit php.ini** ```bash theme={null} sudo nano /etc/php/8.3/fpm/php.ini ``` Find and change these lines (press `Ctrl+W` in nano to search): ```ini theme={null} upload_max_filesize = 64M post_max_size = 72M memory_limit = 256M max_execution_time = 120 ``` `post_max_size` must be larger than `upload_max_filesize`, because a form post carries the file plus other fields. `memory_limit` should be larger than `post_max_size`. **2. Restart PHP** > [tab] Ubuntu / Debian (PHP-FPM) > > ```bash theme={null} > sudo systemctl restart php8.3-fpm > ``` > [tab] Apache mod\_php > > ```bash theme={null} > sudo systemctl restart apache2 > ``` > [tab] AlmaLinux / Rocky > > ```bash theme={null} > sudo systemctl restart php-fpm > ``` ## How to raise the web server limit > [tab] Nginx > > Add `client_max_body_size` inside the site's `server { }` block (or in `http { }` in `/etc/nginx/nginx.conf` for all sites): > > ```nginx theme={null} > server { > server_name example.com; > client_max_body_size 64M; > # ... > } > ``` > > ```bash theme={null} > sudo nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginx > ``` > [tab] Apache > > Apache's default `LimitRequestBody` is 1 GiB (1073741824 bytes), so you only need to change it for larger uploads or if a config lowered it. Set it in the `` or `` block, in bytes: > > ```apache theme={null} > LimitRequestBody 2147483648 > ``` > > Then `sudo apache2ctl configtest && sudo systemctl reload apache2` (`apachectl` and `httpd` on AlmaLinux / Rocky). ## How to set limits for one site only > [tab] .user.ini (PHP-FPM) > > Create `.user.ini` in the site's web root: > > ```ini theme={null} > upload_max_filesize = 64M > post_max_size = 72M > memory_limit = 256M > ``` > > PHP-FPM reads it without a restart, but caches it for up to 5 minutes (`user_ini.cache_ttl = 300`). > [tab] PHP-FPM pool > > In the site's pool file, for example `/etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d/www.conf`, add: > > ```ini theme={null} > php_admin_value[upload_max_filesize] = 64M > php_admin_value[post_max_size] = 72M > php_admin_value[memory_limit] = 256M > ``` > > Then restart PHP-FPM. `php_admin_value` cannot be overridden by the app. > [tab] .htaccess (Apache mod\_php) > > ```apache theme={null} > php_value upload_max_filesize 64M > php_value post_max_size 72M > php_value memory_limit 256M > ``` > > This only works with `mod_php` and `AllowOverride All`. With PHP-FPM it causes a 500 error; use `.user.ini` instead. `upload_max_filesize` and `post_max_size` cannot be changed with `ini_set()` inside PHP code. Use one of the methods above. ## How to check it worked Create a temporary check file in the web root: ```bash theme={null} echo ' Add New** shows the new "Maximum upload file size". ## Frequently asked questions ### I get "413 Request Entity Too Large". Which limit is it? That comes from Nginx: raise `client_max_body_size`. The Nginx error log shows `client intended to send too large body: … bytes`. ### WordPress says "The uploaded file exceeds the upload\_max\_filesize directive in php.ini". I changed it. Why? You edited the command-line `php.ini` or did not restart PHP-FPM. Edit the `fpm/php.ini` for the PHP version your site uses and restart that version's service. With several versions installed, see [multiple PHP versions](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-install-multiple-php-versions.md). ### What memory\_limit should I use? 128M is PHP's default and fine for most sites; 256M suits WordPress with page builders or WooCommerce. Every PHP worker can use up to this amount, so very high values on a small VPS can cause [out-of-memory kills](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-fix-out-of-memory-killed-processes.md). ### Large uploads time out. What else should I raise? Raise `max_execution_time` in PHP and, for slow PHP responses behind Nginx, `fastcgi_read_timeout` (default 60 seconds) in the `location ~ \.php$` block. ## Related guides > [card] [VPS and dedicated server guides](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/vps-and-dedicated-server-guides.md) > > Every server guide in one place. > [card] [Install WordPress](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-install-wordpress-on-a-vps.md) > > Where upload limits matter most. > [card] [Install a LEMP stack](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-install-a-lemp-stack.md) > > Nginx with PHP-FPM. > [card] [Multiple PHP versions](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-install-multiple-php-versions.md) > > One php.ini per version. > [card] [Check memory usage](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-check-memory-usage-on-linux.md) > > Size memory\_limit safely. *** > [!NOTE] > > **Checked against the official [PHP core ini directives](https://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php), [PHP .user.ini documentation](https://www.php.net/manual/en/configuration.file.per-user.php), [nginx core module](https://nginx.org/en/docs/http/ngx_http_core_module.html) and [Apache core directives](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#limitrequestbody)** on 4 November 2026; php.ini, `.user.ini` and pool overrides, the `limits.php` check and the Nginx 413 error tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Nginx 1.24.0, PHP-FPM 8.3.6). Commands can differ on other distributions or releases. > [!NOTE] > > ### Need Extra Help? > > If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist: > > * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website. > * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) > * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting) > * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com) > [!TIP] > > ### Save on Your Hosting > > Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order! *** **Last Updated:** November 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.