How to Fix WordPress Image Upload Errors

When an upload to Media fails, WordPress shows a message. The message tells you the fix, so find yours below.

“… exceeds the maximum upload size for this site.” or “The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini.”

The file is bigger than your hosting allows in one upload.

1. Go to Media → Add Media File. Under the upload area, WordPress shows Maximum upload file size: and the limit.
2. Open the image in your computer’s photo app. Use its resize option to set the longest side to 2560 pixels or less, and save it as a copy. Photos straight from a phone or camera are often far larger than a web page needs.
3. Upload the smaller copy.
4. If you need to upload bigger files, open a support ticket and tell us the size of the largest file you want to upload.

“The server cannot process the image…”

The file uploaded, but the server ran out of time or memory creating the smaller copies WordPress makes of every image. WordPress suggests images no larger than 2560 pixels on the longest side.

1. Go to Media → Library. If the image is there without a thumbnail, delete it.
2. Resize the image to 2560 pixels or less on its longest side and upload it again.

“The server cannot process HEIC images…” or “The web server cannot generate responsive image sizes for this image…”

The server can’t work with this image format. Photos from an iPhone often use a format called HEIC.

1. Open the image in a photo app and use its Save As or Export option to save it as JPEG (for photos) or PNG (for graphics). Renaming the file’s ending doesn’t change its format.
2. Upload the new file.

“Sorry, you are not allowed to upload this file type.” or “This file cannot be processed by the web server.”

WordPress allows common image, audio, video and document formats only. Save the image as JPEG or PNG, as in the section above, and try again. Don’t install plugins that allow any file type; they let harmful files in too.

“Unable to create directory… Is its parent directory writable by the server?”

WordPress can’t write to its uploads folder. The message names the folder it couldn’t create.

1. Log in to cPanel, click Files in the sidebar and open the File Manager tab. If you see a File Manager icon instead, click it. Or type its name in cPanel’s search box (Ctrl+K or Cmd+K). If you can’t log in or can’t find File Manager, open a support ticket.
2. Open public_html (or the folder for this site), then wp-content.
3. Select the uploads folder and click Permissions. Folders should be 755.
4. If it isn’t 755, change it to 755 and confirm.
5. If the message names a folder inside uploads, open uploads and check that folder the same way.
6. If the folders already show 755, or there’s no uploads folder, open a support ticket and paste the full error message.

“Unexpected response from the server…”

Some older guides call this an “HTTP error”. The upload may have worked. Reload Media → Library and check. If it isn’t there:

1. Try a smaller copy of the image.
2. Try another browser.
3. If you use a plugin that shrinks or optimizes images, go to Plugins and click Deactivate under it. Try the upload, then click Activate to turn it back on. Don’t turn off security plugins; open a support ticket instead.
4. If it still fails, see how to fix 403 and 500 errors.

How to tell it worked

The image appears in Media → Library with a thumbnail, and it shows on the page where you inserted it.

Troubleshooting

• The image uploads but looks old on the site: clear your cache (see how to clear your WordPress cache).
• All uploads fail since a move: check the uploads folder permissions as above. Then go to Settings → Media. If you see a Store uploads in this folder box, copy what it says into a support ticket. Don’t change it yourself.
• Thumbnails are missing for old images: they were created under older settings. A thumbnail-regeneration plugin can rebuild them. We keep daily backups for 30 days, but if you’re unsure, open a support ticket before you run one.

Still need help?

Open a support ticket from the Client Portal at my.bluearctic.com. Include your site address, the exact error message, the file’s size and format, a screenshot, and what you already tried. Never include a password.