This WordPress HTTP error is very common when uploading images to your WordPress site. There are actual solutions, which this guide will cover.
The WordPress media upload HTTP error often occurs after the image has been having trouble uploading for a while. On occasion, the image is uploaded even after the error alert appears. It can happen for a number of reasons.
Usually, the HTTP error when uploading images to WordPress occurs because the image is too big in pixel size. The server is therefore not able to host it. It can also happen when your image size is fine, but the server is just not liking it.
WordPress HTTP Error When Uploading Images
You may find that the WordPress image upload http error occurs after you have recently updated WordPress to the latest version or gone through other updates. It could even occur when your hosting provider has gone through some updates or upgrades. Some plugins and scripts can cause the WordPress HTTP error to trigger, too.
With so many possible causes, it’s important to be systematic when trying to solve this common WordPress media upload HTTP error. Don’t let frustration make you angry. If it’s not one issue, it’s another, and they are all fixable.
How to fix it?
First things first. Disable all the plugins you’ve added to your WordPress site’s theme. The ones that tend to cause the most trouble are those of unknown or unverified origin. Ones that have not received updates for a long time can also cause this WordPress HTTP error. Image optimizer plugins tend to be major culprits.
When it comes to plugins, try to get them only from reliable sources. It’s easy to find free plugins that claim to do just about anything. They may even do what they say they will, but they can have bad interactions with your site or the other plugins on it, causing errors like the HTTP error.
Turn to sources like the official WordPress library at wordpress.org/plugins. They vet and test their plugins. Also pay attention to reviews and ratings, including negative ones, so that you can get a clear understanding of what you are getting and how it interacts with other factors before you start using the plugin.
It’s very likely that removing suspicious plugins or disabling dated ones will solve your WordPress media upload http error. They are not necessarily the cause of the issue, however.
Setting the permissions properly
You may have incorrect file permissions for the WordPress uploads folder on the server, for instance. If these file permissions are not correct, you will not be able to store any files in the media library, or they will not display in the media library. When you try to add files to the library, you’ll get the WordPress media upload http error. This will likely be an output of the incorrect permission configurations. This permission issue can happen when there are updates, upgrades, or other changes made by your hosting company.
To fix this problem, you’ll need to set the permissions correctly. Follow the instructions on this post in order to make sure they’re right.
Mind the size of the file
Another possible cause of the WordPress HTTP error is the size of the file you’re trying to upload. If your file is too big, it will simply show up as broken, with no details as to why the image upload isn’t working. It can be very frustrating. The only real way to see if this is the cause is to decrease your image size and upload it again.
For instance, a 3000 x 2000 pixel image will fail to upload and give you the WordPress image upload http error. The server will refuse to accept the large file. The natural solution is to resize the file to something the server will take.
Don’t feel this will necessarily degrade the image. Often, it’s a matter of changing the format or cropping out what’s really wasted space. Think carefully about the post area you want to use for that image before you upload. The only real reason the image isn’t uploading is because of its size in pixels, so a resize shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Also, pay close attention to your image extension. The WordPress theme may not support PNG files. You may have to swap it to JPG. The reverse can also be true, where the theme does not support JPG and you need to swap it to PNG. Just swap it out and try again. This may quickly and easily solve your WordPress HTTP error.
What to Do to Avoid a Getting an HTTP Error When Uploading Images to WordPress
- Get and set up an FTP program. This will allow you to transfer files to the WordPress host. An FTP is a File Transfer Protocol, which will make sure the file transfer is secure and nearly certain.
- Install the Add From Server plugin and be sure to activate it. From the WordPress Dashboard, all you have to do is check Settings> Add From Server. This is an older plugin with no support, but it still works well to help ease the difficulty of adding media to your website. It’s not a replacement for an image uploader, but it helps. It sees a lot of use by WordPress users.
- Make sure your hosting company is using PHP 5.2.4+ and that they have not done anything to limit uploads. This is a simple problem that the host may not even be aware of. Contact support to make sure this isn’t the issue. You’re not bothering them if you need to solve a real problem. You also will be helping a lot of people out with similar problems.
- Avoid having an apostrophe in the image file’s name. This tends to set off the WordPress media upload HTTP error.
Ending thoughts on WordPress http error
If all of these tips and trick don’t help you out, make sure you first backup your site as it is. Then, contact the theme developers to see if there’s any issue there. If that’s not the case, then contact your hosting company.
If WordPress is not uploading images, it can be frustrating, but it’s not a problem you can’t fix. Keep calm and start going through possible causes. If you can’t solve the problem yourself, feel free to contact other!
If you enjoyed reading this article on fixing WordPress http error when uploading image, you should check out this one about how to fix WordPress white screen of death.
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