While working on WordPress project with a client today we ran into an interesting problem. Our client had a 30mb audio MP3 file they wanted to host on their website for playback by anyone who registered for the free newsletter. The page was hidden and re-directed after successful newsletter registration. Of course this page and MP3 can be found by search engines so if this is a problem for your situation and you don’t want people finding your hidden files don’t host your MP3 or any large file in this manner!
WordPress support for large files
There are numerous was to create a link, to a large file in a page. Or you can add a plugin to host, stream or play the MP3 files in WordPress. Some of you reading this will think they are crazy for hosting a large file and worry about monthly bandwidth limits? They have an unlimited account and we aren’t hosting top 40 music files or movies so it’s relative to the hosted content!
Problem
The problem was the client couldn’t upload the MP3 file via the WordPress Media Library upload. The PHP limits were restricting large files commonly anything over 8mb???
To get around this problem and avoid PHP editing we helped the client this way:
We logged into the website cPanel and simply clicked on “File manager.”
Next you double click on sub-folders or click the plus in the folder structure to dig down to the WordPress content library. The window will be open in the right pane.
example: ../wp-content/uploads/2010/2 (of course your year and month will change with the date you upload)
With the folder open on the right next click “Upload” in the top toolbar.
You will see your maximum file size upload. Often this is greater than the WordPress limits but if it’s less than your file size STOP HERE and contact your web host to increase your limit!
Next simply click Browse and choose your file and upload.
Back to WordPress
Now login to your WordPress Dashboard and add the plugin “Add to Server” from Dion Hulse
Next go to your Media Library in the Dashboard and you’ll see a new link
Next choose Add from Server and you are taken to a file browser similar to file manager in cPanel. Simply drill down to your directory and choose the file or files and import.
You will now find your files in Media Library!
Other considerations
Maybe you have a need to upload a large number of files? It could be a combination of photos, video, documents or ?? Maybe you want to FTP a bunch of files and then add to the media library instead of uploading one by one in the media library!
If you find any other solutions or ideas please post them here!
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Hey Bob,
I loved that you used ‘my’ problem to teach others.
Thanks for being such a great help!
You rock!
Karen H-C
I am now doing the method u had said on this page if it works well . i always be thanking you
Does bandwidth really make a big difference?
Yes bandwidgth can make a difference in many areas. Your upload speed, the bandwith for your server, bandwidth of your website visitor etc.. I suggest hosting large audio/video files with online providers like YouTube and Viemo so they can manage the bandwidth and you embed the video into your WordPress website.
Hi there,
I wanted to add a big swf file using WordPress uploader, but I couldn’t. I tried your solution step by step but when I pressed import button nothing happened and the file is not added to library!
could you help me to solve the problem?
cheers,
YF
Remember to first upload your large SWF file via FTP to your WordPress site under your wp-contents/uploads directory. Then scan for updates and your file will be added to the media library for use in your website.
Your web hosting company may limit the maxiumum upload file size via WordPress and even vial FTP. If your upload is limited none of these steps will work.
If your video isn’t anything private upload to YouTube.com or Vimeo.com and then use the embed code to place in your WPsite vs. trying to host a large video file and paying for the bandwidth usage.
Great solution! I’ve tried several others and this one worked without editing php!
Copyrighting is very important specially if you wrote original articles both online and offline.,~”
PERFECT. THANKS!! I LOVE a good plugin. I’ve been looking for a solution for this for a couple weeks now.
Now I have to do something about the audio quality.
I can see that your published content is rather observant as it talks about an assorted range of great info. Well, was wondering whether you would willing to exchange contacts with my web site, as I am searching to compile more contacts to further extend and get better web exposure for my website. I don’t really mind you positioning my web links at the front page, just accepting this links on this particular link is good and adequate. Also, please reach me at my website if you are interested in the link exchange, I would really value that. I would like to thank you and hope to hear from you as soon as possible!
Thank you so much!!!!!!!
Thanks for the tip on the plugin. I’m working with a theme that uses custom fields for various post images. It uploads them to the media library, but doesn’t register them.
This was a great solution while I’m in development. I’ll have to find something easier (or fix the theme’s upload process) before I hand the site over to my client.
Thanks for this – I was about to write a plugin to handle scanning the uploads folder for new media until I found your post – very helpful!
I just want to say thanks for helping me out with this… was struggling going down the php route and then found this post through google… works like a charm!
Chris Rogers
Bath personal trainer
Thanks a bunch. Saved me a ton of time.
Hey Bob,
I was trying many different ways to do this and after about an hour I said hmmmm..I bet I’m not the only one with this problem. So Google search I go and BAM! You solved it.
Thanks for this post. I’m going to post my problem on my site and link to you.
Carey
No problem Carey,
We’ve been so busy with projects the past 6 months we are behind on our blog posts. We’ll have more tips and tricks in the days and weeks ahead!
Thanks. This is great. Just what I’ve been looking for.
I use Filezilla to upload photos and larger wmv’s and avi’s – I find it much quicker and easier for uploading multiple files than through the CPanel interface.
Ah, so simple ! You guys have nailed a very tricky question with a nice, simple answer. Crikey, have you read some of the other complicated, long-winded answers that have been posted about this topic. Thanks guys.
This was SUPER helpful! Thanks so much for posting – I literally had my problem solved within 5 mins.
THANK YOU!
I noticed the 50mb limit on the file manager, so I called my bluehost.com, my hosting company, to ask what can I do/ I was instructed to use “unlimited ftp” with bluehost.com. (no additional charge)… and it work. Thanks
thanks for your tutorial, this is work 100% thanks again
Thanks for sharing! fantastic wordpress CMS.
Thank you SO much for this! I was getting entirely TOO frustrated with this issue. I did a Google search and this came up right when I was at my wits end. I appreciate you taking the time to share the solution, it’s working perfect for me … also, too, for adding that plugin–> add from server.
I’m so relieved!
God bless!
You are a life saver!
This goes on my Top 10 List of Must-Have Plugins….. of all time.
Kudos
Thank you !!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!
Great plugin, needed to add the image files to Media Library and this did the trick but I have now got more files than I started with???? It has seemed to have made different sized thumb nails of some of the images for some strange reason. At least they’re in the same folders as before.
Many thanks, will use this plugin again.
Thank you so much!
I’ve been looking for a solution to this problem for several days now. This is the only one I’ve seen that actually solves my problem for my brand new blog. I don’t need to look any further. Thanks you so much.
I have been looking for Media Folder in FTP. After reading this post only I came to know about the exact location
I thank sweet Jesus for leading me to your article. And thank you for solving my problem! God bless you!
Thank you!