Introduction
The “wordpress import file too large” error is one of the most frustrating problems WordPress users face during migration and in this article we show you exactly how to fix it in under 5 minutes.
You’ve spent hours maybe days building or managing a WordPress website. Then comes the moment to move it. You install All-in-One WP Migration, export the whole thing into one neat file, head over to your new host, hit Import, and then:
“The file you are trying to import exceeds the maximum upload size for this site.”
Everything stops. Your migration is stuck. And now you’re down a rabbit hole of Stack Overflow threads, cPanel tutorials, and .htaccess hacks that may or may not work depending on your hosting provider.
Here’s the good news: there is a clean, simple, permanent fix and it takes less than five minutes to implement. In this article, we’ll explain exactly why this error happens, why the common fixes often fail, and how the All-in-One WP Migration Unlimited Extension solves it completely. We’ll also show you how to complete a full WordPress migration from start to finish without hitting any size limits.
Why Does the WordPress Import File Too Large Error Happen?
Before fixing the problem, it helps to understand where it actually comes from because most people blame the wrong thing.
When you try to import a .wpress backup file into WordPress, the file has to pass through three separate size restrictions before it reaches the database:
1. PHP upload_max_filesize This is a PHP server setting that controls the maximum size of any single file that can be uploaded through a web form. Most shared hosting providers set this to 32MB, 64MB, or 128MB by default.
2. PHP post_max_size This controls the maximum size of all data submitted in a single HTTP POST request including file uploads. Even if your upload_max_filesize is high, a lower post_max_size will still block large imports.
3. All-in-One WP Migration’s own limit The free version of All-in-One WP Migration enforces its own import size cap, separate from PHP settings. Even if you successfully increase your PHP limits, the plugin itself won’t allow imports larger than 512MB without the Unlimited Extension.
This is why the common advice “just add these lines to your .htaccess file” often doesn’t fully work. You might increase your PHP limits, but the plugin’s internal cap is still there. The only real solution is the Unlimited Extension.
The Common Fixes That Don’t Always Work
Let’s quickly go through the workarounds people try and why they fall short.
Editing .htaccess Adding php_value upload_max_filesize 512M and php_value post_max_size 512M to your .htaccess file works on some shared hosts. But many hosting providers especially managed WordPress hosts override these values at the server level. Your changes get ignored silently.
You can test your current PHP upload limits using a free tool like to check your server performance.
Editing php.ini Modifying php.ini directly is more reliable but requires server-level access. Most shared hosting users don’t have this. And even when they do, hosts often reset php.ini values on server updates.
Using WP-CLI to increase limits This works for developers comfortable with command-line tools, but it’s not an option for most WordPress users. And it still doesn’t bypass All-in-One WP Migration’s own 512MB cap.
Splitting the export into smaller files Some guides suggest exporting only the database separately, then importing media manually via FTP. This works but it’s slow, error-prone, and defeats the entire purpose of using a one-click migration tool.
None of these are the clean, permanent solution. The clean solution is removing the restriction at its source.
The Real Fix: All-in-One WP Migration Unlimited Extension
The All-in-One WP Migration Unlimited Extension is a premium add-on developed by ServMask the same team that builds All-in-One WP Migration that removes all file size restrictions entirely. No PHP configuration changes. No server-level tweaks. No workarounds.
Once installed, you can import a backup file of any size 1GB, 5GB, 20GB, or more directly through the WordPress dashboard.
At BitsRanker, we use this extension regularly when handling WordPress website migrations for clients. It’s the most reliable migration tool we’ve found for real-world projects, which is why we’re offering it as a free download on our All-in-One WP Migration Unlimited Extension page.
The extension is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPLv3) the same open-source license that WordPress itself uses which makes sharing it freely completely legal and legitimate. This is not a nulled or cracked plugin. It is GPL-licensed software shared under the terms its own license grants.
What the Unlimited Extension Does
Here is exactly what changes once the extension is installed:
Removes the 512MB plugin cap The hard limit built into the free version of All-in-One WP Migration is gone. You can import files of any size without restriction.
Bypasses PHP server limits The extension handles large file transfers in a way that works around PHP upload limits at the plugin level so even if your host is stubborn about PHP settings, the import still completes successfully.
Prevents execution timeouts Large imports take time. Without the extension, PHP execution timeouts can interrupt the process mid-import and leave your site in a broken state. The Unlimited Extension breaks the transfer into managed chunks that complete reliably regardless of how large the site is.
Enables server-side restore For very large sites, instead of uploading a backup file through the browser, you can place the .wpress file directly on the server and trigger the import from inside WordPress. This is faster, more reliable, and avoids browser upload timeout issues entirely.
Adds WP-CLI support Developers and agencies managing multiple WordPress projects can automate migrations, backups, and restores from the command line saving significant time on high-volume workflows.
Step-by-Step: How to Migrate a WordPress Site Using the Unlimited Extension
Here is the complete process from start to finish.
Step 1: Export Your Site from the Source Host
- On your current WordPress site, install and activate the free All-in-One WP Migration plugin from the WordPress plugin repository
- Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Export → Export To → File
- Wait for the export to complete — the plugin packages your entire site (database, media, plugins, themes, settings) into a single
.wpressfile - Download the exported file to your computer
Step 2: Set Up WordPress on the New Host
- Install a fresh WordPress on your new hosting environment
- Complete the basic WordPress setup (site title, admin username and password)
- Do not install any themes or plugins yet the import will handle everything
Step 3: Install All-in-One WP Migration and the Unlimited Extension
- On the new site, go to Plugins → Add New and search for All-in-One WP Migration
- Install and activate the free plugin
- Download the Unlimited Extension from BitsRanker’s free tools page
- Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, select the downloaded zip file, and click Install Now
- Activate the Unlimited Extension
Step 4: Import Your Site
- Go to All-in-One WP Migration → Import
- Drag and drop your
.wpressfile — or click to browse and select it - For very large files (10GB+), use the server restore option: upload the
.wpressfile via FTP to/wp-content/ai1wm-backups/and it will appear in the import screen automatically - Confirm the import when prompted this will overwrite the current WordPress installation with your backup
Step 5: Final Checks After Migration
Once the import completes, there are a few things to verify before going live:
- Log back in using your original site’s credentials (the import replaces the temporary admin account)
- Update your site URL under Settings → General if you’ve moved to a new domain
- Flush your permalinks by going to Settings → Permalinks and clicking Save Changes
- Test all pages and links to confirm everything transferred correctly
- Check your SSL certificate is active on the new host
- If migrating a WooCommerce store, verify payment gateway API keys and update any webhook URLs to point to the new domain
That’s it. Your entire website is now running on the new host every post, page, image, plugin, setting, and database record exactly as it was on the old one.
Who Should Use This Extension?
The Unlimited Extension is essential for:
- Freelancers and agencies handling client site migrations the 512MB free limit is almost always too small for real client projects
- WordPress developers moving sites between local environments, staging, and live servers
- Business owners switching hosting providers and needing a reliable way to move everything without data loss
- WooCommerce store owners with large product catalogues and order histories
- Bloggers and content sites with years of media uploads that push well past 512MB
- Anyone who has ever seen the “import file exceeds maximum upload size” error and wasted hours trying to fix it
If you’re building or managing WordPress websites professionally, this extension belongs in your toolkit permanently.
Pair It with the Right WordPress Tools
A clean migration is only the beginning. Once your site is on its new host, its performance depends on how well it’s built and configured.
If you’re using Elementor as your page builder, ProElements gives you every Elementor Pro feature popups, advanced forms, WooCommerce templates, motion effects, and more completely free. It’s another tool we use at BitsRanker and share freely for the same reason: good WordPress tools should be available to everyone.
And if you want your migrated site to perform at the highest level fast load times, strong Core Web Vitals, and solid technical SEO our WordPress development team can handle the full optimization. We’ve achieved PageSpeed Insights scores of 100 on desktop and 99 on mobile on our own website, and we apply the same standard to every client project.
Download the Unlimited Extension Free
Stop fighting with PHP settings and .htaccess files. The All-in-One WP Migration Unlimited Extension removes every size restriction and lets you migrate any WordPress website in minutes.
It’s free, it’s legal, it’s clean and it works.
If you need professional help with a migration or want a fully optimized WordPress website built from scratch, get in touch with BitsRanker and we’ll take it from there.
Need more free WordPress tools? Visit our Free WordPress Tools hub and see everything we’re sharing with the community.