How Do I Upload a Large Video to WordPress?

Uploading large videos to WordPress can be tricky, but here's how to overcome common limitations:

1. Check Server and Hosting Limitations

Before trying anything else, understand your hosting provider's restrictions. Many shared hosting plans have strict upload limits. Look for:

upload_max_filesize: The maximum size of a single file you can upload.
post_max_size: The maximum amount of data that can be submitted in a single POST request (including files). This should be larger than upload_max_filesize.
memory_limit: The maximum amount of memory PHP scripts can use.
max_execution_time: The maximum time a PHP script can run. This may need to be increased to prevent timeouts during large uploads.

Your hosting provider's documentation or support team can provide this information.

2. Increase PHP Upload Limits

If you have access to your server's configuration files, you can try increasing the PHP upload limits. This method varies depending on your hosting setup.

php.ini File: This is the primary configuration file for PHP. You can often modify it directly. Add or modify the following lines:
```
upload_max_filesize = 256M
post_max_size = 256M
memory_limit = 512M
max_execution_time = 300
```
(Adjust the values as needed, but post_max_size should always be larger or equal to upload_max_filesize). Save the file and restart your web server.
.htaccess File: If you don't have direct access to php.ini, you can try modifying the .htaccess file in your WordPress root directory. Add the following lines:
```
php_value upload_max_filesize 256M
php_value post_max_size 256M
php_value memory_limit 512M
php_value max_execution_time 300
```
Important: Not all hosting providers allow modifying PHP values via .htaccess.

wp-config.php File: In some cases, you can try adding this to your wp-config.php file:

@ini_set( 'upload_max_size' , '256M' );
@ini_set( 'post_max_size', '256M');
@ini_set( 'memory_limit', '512M' );
@ini_set( 'max_execution_time', '300' );

3. Use FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) provides a direct way to upload files to your server, bypassing WordPress's built-in media uploader.

Connect to your server: Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your web server using your hosting credentials (host, username, password).
Navigate to the wp-content/uploads directory: This is where WordPress stores media files. You might want to create a new folder within uploads for your video.
Upload the video file: Drag and drop the video file from your computer to the desired folder on the server.
Add the video to a post or page: Since you bypassed the media library, you'll need to manually link to the video. Find the video's URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/my-large-video.mp4) and use HTML to embed it:
```
<video width="640" height="360" controls>
  <source src="https://yourdomain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/my-large-video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>
```

4. Split Large Files

If the file is exceptionally large, consider splitting it into smaller segments and uploading them separately. You can use video editing software (like Handbrake) to split the video. Then you can upload the smaller videos and use a plugin to combine them or link them together within your WordPress page. This is more complex and often less desirable than the other options.

5. Use a Plugin

Several WordPress plugins are designed to handle large video uploads. Some popular options include:

Large File Uploader: Designed specifically to overcome WordPress's file size limits.
Media Library Folders Pro: Although primarily a folder organization plugin, many also offer enhanced upload capabilities.

Install and activate the plugin and follow its instructions to upload your video.

6. Cloud Storage Services

Offload video storage and streaming to a dedicated video hosting platform like:

YouTube: Free and widely used. Embed YouTube videos into your WordPress site.
Vimeo: A professional video hosting platform with more control over privacy and branding.
Wistia: Designed for businesses, offering advanced analytics and marketing tools.

Upload the video to the chosen platform and then embed it into your WordPress page using the platform's provided embed code. This is a highly recommended solution as it reduces the load on your WordPress server and often provides better streaming performance.

7. Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN can help speed up video delivery by caching your video files on servers located around the world. This ensures that users can stream the video from a server that is geographically closer to them. This is generally used in conjunction with cloud storage, rather than as a standalone solution for uploading. Common CDN providers are Cloudflare and Amazon CloudFront.

8. Optimize Videos Before Uploading

Before uploading, optimize the video for web use. This means:

Compressing the video: Reduce the file size without significantly impacting visual quality using video editing software.
Using the correct video format: MP4 is generally the most compatible format for web browsers.
Choosing an appropriate resolution and frame rate: Lower resolutions (e.g., 720p instead of 4K) and lower frame rates (e.g., 30fps instead of 60fps) reduce file size.

By following these steps, you can successfully upload large videos to your WordPress website, providing a better experience for your visitors and reducing the strain on your server. Remember to test thoroughly after making any changes.

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