There are many tools that enable you to set up local evolution environments for creating and testing WordPress websites. MAMP is one of them, and it'southward remarkably easy to use.

Nonetheless, if you desire to get the about out of it, y'all'll need to increase its default upload size.

Since WordPress is built on PHP, the software's settings can determine how well your website operates. For example, using an outdated version of PHP can foreclose you from running the latest WordPress releases. On the same note, having a low memory limit can cause frequent errors.

In this article, nosotros'll introduce you to MAMP, explicate why it'south a smart idea to increase the upload size, and then prove you how to do it in ii unproblematic steps. Let'south go started!

An Introduction to MAMP

The MAMP homepage with the text "MAMP & MAMP PRO: Your local web development solution. PHP 8 Support."
The MAMP homepage.

MAMP is a tool that lets you set up a local server environment on your macOS or Windows computer. With it, yous can install the following software on your computer:

  • Apache
  • Nginx
  • PHP
  • MySQL

There are plenty of other tools that you can utilize to install WordPress locally. Still, we similar MAMP because it provides y'all with an intuitive command panel and the choice to switch between Nginx and Apache for your web server software:

A screenshot showing switching between Apache and Nginx using MAMP's
Switching betwixt Apache and Nginx using MAMP.

The instructions you'll find below apply whether y'all're using the free version of MAMP or MAMP PRO. You can utilize either version to install WordPress locally.

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Why Increase Your Web Server's PHP Upload Size

Every PHP installation uses a set of variables or "directives" that govern its settings. These are the three settings that make up one's mind how PHP deals with file uploads (every bit far every bit size is concerned):

  1. memory_limit: This determines how much retention your server tin can classify to each PHP script.
  2. post_max_size: This setting controls the maximum size of POST data that your server will allow and plays a role in WordPress file uploads.
  3. upload_max_filesize: The value that yous fix here determines the file size limit for uploads to your website.

As nosotros mentioned, WordPress is built on PHP. Therefore, all of these settings direct affect your website. If your PHP installation has a low retention limit, you'll meet problems uploading files and executing scripts on your site.

There'south no ideal PHP retentivity limit that suits every web server. However, since nosotros're talking near a local development environment, you have full freedom over how many resources to allocate to your setup. Whereas most web hosts will cap your PHP memory limit (within reason), at that place's no forced cap with your local instance.

Some tutorials tell yous to only increase the upload_max_filesize setting within your PHP configuration. However, that tin can pb to errors. The PHP documentation is clear when it indicates that your post_max_size setting should have a higher value than upload_max_filesize.

Likewise, memory_limit should have a college value than post_max_size. Equally long every bit your PHP settings adhere to those guidelines, you should be golden.

How To Increase the Upload Size for Your Local MAMP Web Server (in two Steps)

For this tutorial, we'll show yous how to configure MAMP to increase its upload size on both Windows and macOS. Nosotros'll likewise use the MAMP control panel to ensure that you updated your server settings successfully.

Step 1: Modify Your php.ini File

Modifying your PHP settings in MAMP is easy. To practice so, you lot'll need to edit your MAMP installation's php.ini file.

You lot can access that file in one of these two locations, depending on whether you're using Windows or macOS:

  1. Windows: C:/MAMP/conf/phpx.ten.10/php.ini
  2. macOS: /Applications/MAMP/bin/php/phpx.x.x/conf/php.ini

If yous navigate to the conf directory, you lot'll find that it includes several folders for different PHP versions. By default, your MAMP installation should use the latest PHP version, and you'll desire to access the folder that corresponds to information technology.

To double-check which version of PHP you're using, open up the MAMP control panel, become to MAMP > Preferences > PHP, and then look at the version number adjacent to "Standard Version":

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Checking which PHP version you're using in MAMP through the
Checking which PHP version you're using in MAMP.

Next, you can return to the conf directory and admission the binder that correlates to that version. Within, you'll find a lone php.ini file. Go ahead and open up it using your favorite text editor, and you'll run across something like this:

A screenshot of a php.ini configuration file with commented text.
A php.ini configuration file.

As we explained in the last section, you lot need to look for the post-obit three directives:

  1. memory_limit
  2. post_max_size
  3. upload_max_filesize

We recommend setting a memory limit of 128 or 256 MB. Hither'south what that value looks like in our php.ini file:

A screenshot of increasing the PHP memory limit via the "memory_limit" directive, which is highlighted.
Increasing your PHP memory limit.

To locate that directive, employ your text editor's search functionality and modify the value subsequently the = sign.

Observe that the number is followed past a single "M" instead of an "MB". Both 128 and 256 MB give your WordPress installation more than plenty resources to execute any scripts or upload the files that you'll need to apply. Y'all can also become higher if your calculator has the resources for it, which shouldn't be a problem with modern devices.

At present repeat the same process for post_max_size and upload_max_filesize, using a higher value for the former. In nigh cases, you don't need to go higher than ten to 20 MB for either setting. Subsequently all, it'due south rare that you'll discover yourself in a situation where you need to upload files of that size to a WordPress website.

In whatever case, you lot tin can prepare whatever values that yous want for either directive, as long every bit they follow the guidelines we outlined earlier.

When you're done, relieve the changes to php.ini and shut the file. And then y'all can return to the MAMP control panel and click on Commencement Servers.

Step two: Check Your phpInfo Page

PHP can generate a page called phpInfo that enables you lot to cheque all your server configuration settings without having to navigate the php.ini file.

To access your MAMP phpInfo folio, open the tool's command panel and click on the Open WebStart page button:

Opening your MAMP WebStart page, which shows your Apache server, MySQL server, and cloud statuses.
Opening your MAMP WebStart folio.

WebStart is a local folio that MAMP sets up, which provides you with an overview of your server's settings. You can use WebStart to access the phpInfo folio, also as tools such as phpMyAdmin.

For this tutorial, we're simply interested in the former, so go ahead and click on the phpInfo push button at the top of the page:

MAMP's WebStart page showing navigation elements at the top, including the phpInfo link.
Accessing your phpInfo page using WebStart.

Once the page loads, you lot'll run into an overview of all your PHP settings, which should expect something like this:

Screenshot of a directives table in MAMP's phpInfo pagewith
Checking your "memory_limit" value via MAMP's phpInfo page.

In the screenshot above, you can see that we set our memory_limit value to 128 MB.

Go ahead and utilise your browser'south search function to locate all three directives and check that phpInfo reflects their new values.

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Summary

MAMP offers one of the easiest ways to ready a local development surroundings if you use a Windows or macOS device. It'south besides a fantastic solution if you want to switch between Nginx and Apache for your projects.

Still, if y'all're going to use it for WordPress development, y'all may demand to increase its PHP upload size.

Fortunately, configuring MAMP to increase its upload size is simple. All y'all have to do is update three directives within your local php.ini file: memory_limit, post_max_size, and upload_max_filesize.

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