How to Increase the Maximum Allowed Size of Uploaded Files in Joomla’s Media Manager

By default, the media manager in Joomla 2.5 allows a maximum upload size of 10 MB, which is ridiculous, since a high resolution picture can be bigger than 10 MB, and the smallest video with the smallest resolution (by today’s standards) can be at least 3 times that size. So, there must be a way to increase that maximum!

So, how can one increase the maximum upload size in Joomla’s media manager?

Well, it’s very easy. In order to do that, all you need to do is to follow these steps:

• Login to the backend of your Joomla website.

• Click on Content->Media Manager in the upper menu.

• Click on Options on the top right.

• Change the value next to Maximum Size (in MB) to something other than 10 (let’ say 100, for example). Just enter a number, do not enter something like “100 MB” or “1 GB”. Just enter 100 or 1000 (all the values are assumed to be in Megabytes or MB).

• Click on Save & Close on the top right.

• That’s it!

Now, after modifying the maximum upload size, try uploading a large file (say one that is 50 MB), and see if it works. If it works, then congratulations! If it doesn’t work, then read on…

So, why is it that the new maximum upload size is not taken into consideration and what can be done about it?

Well, theoretically, you can set the value of the maximum upload size to anything, but realistically, everything in life has bounds, including that maximum upload size! As a rule of thumb, the maximum upload size cannot be greater than the upload_max_filesize and the post_max_size, both of which are values defined in php.ini (the PHP’s settings file). So, if you’re still not able to upload a large file even if its size is less than the value that you defined in the Media Manager, then most likely the size of that file is larger than upload_max_filesize or post_max_size. As a rule of them, the actual maximum upload size in Joomla is always the lesser of these 3 values:

1. Joomla’s maximum upload size as set in the Media Manager’s settings

2. The upload_max_filesize as defined in php.ini

3. The post_max_size as defined in php.ini

So, what if you really need to upload that large file through Joomla, can anything be done about it? Fortunately, in most cases, yes. All you need to do is to create a file called php.ini and place it under the root directory of your Joomla website. That file should contain the following lines:

upload_max_filesize = 100M
post_max_size = 100M

The presence of this file will override the settings in the global php.ini and will ensure that the maximum upload size available to your Joomla website is 100 MB (of course, you can change the number to something other than 100 MB if you want).

Keep in mind that some shared hosting environments might ignore that php.ini that you have created. In this situation, your only option is to contact your host and tell them that you need to upload larger files through your PHP application.

Is there a way to know the maximum upload size defined in the global php.ini?

Yes there is. All you need to do is to create a file called phpinfo.php which consists of the following line:

phpinfo();

Upload the file to the root directory of your Joomla website and load the corresponding page into your browser (e.g go to http://www.yourjoomlawebsite.com/phpinfo.php). The displayed page will show all your PHP settings; just search for upload_max_filesize and post_max_size and you will see their values right next to them.

Now we reach the conclusion of this post. We hope you enjoyed it and we hope that you found it useful. If you didn’t (perhaps because it’s a bit technical) or if you just need more help, then that’s why we’re here! Just contact us and you’ll see how fast, reliable, and affordable we are. We’re also the friendliest programmers on planet earth! (that’s what our clients say about us!)