WordPress Media: “HTTP error.” when uploading images
The upload request failed on the server — memory or timeout during image processing, upload size limits, ModSecurity, or Imagick issues.
HTTP error uploading image wordpressmedia upload HTTP error Meaning
The generic “HTTP error.” hides a server response like 500/413/403. Large images trigger memory/time limits while generating sizes; Imagick with limited threads/resources can crash.
Common causes
- PHP memory/time limit while resizing large images
- Upload size limits (upload_max_filesize, Nginx client_max_body_size)
- ModSecurity/WAF blocking the upload
- Imagick resource issues
⚡ Quick fix
- Check the browser network tab and server logs for the real status
- Raise memory_limit/max_execution_time and size limits
- Try switching the image editor to GD (filter wp_image_editors)
Detailed fix by platform
WordPress
add_filter('wp_image_editors', fn() => ['WP_Image_Editor_GD', 'WP_Image_Editor_Imagick']);
PHP
- php
; php.ini memory_limit = 256M upload_max_filesize = 64M post_max_size = 64M max_execution_time = 120
How to diagnose
- Status — Network tab response code
- Logs — PHP/Nginx error log
- Size — Image dimensions/megapixels
🔧 Still not fixed?
Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:
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Other ways to find it
Where this error sits
Origin: Application & API. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):
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Last updated 13 Oct 2026