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WordPress Tutorials

How To Fix ‘The Link You Followed Has Expired’ Error In WordPress

Last Updated on: February 6, 2021 Editorial Staff 22 Comments

How To Fix ‘The Link You Followed Has Expired’ Error In WordPress

The “link you followed has expired” is a common error that occurs when trying to upload themes and plugins via the WordPress dashboard.

The error usually happens when the file you’re trying to upload is larger than the default upload and execution limits set by WordPress. The best way to fix the issue is to increase the default upload limits.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to fix the “link you followed has expired” all by yourself in a few easy steps.

What Causes ‘The Link You Followed Has Expired’ Error?

If you were to open the WordPress dashboard and go to Media >> Add New page, you’ll notice that by default WordPress has a fixed upload size limit that prevents you from uploading files of larger sizes.

wordpress-upload-limit 2

These prefixed sizes differ based on the type of web hosting plan you use. While managed WordPress hosting providers set over 100mb as the maximum upload size limit, smaller shared hosting plans may limit the size to 25mb. This limit is usually what keeps you from uploading heavy themes and plugins.

Even if your website has a bigger upload size limit, if your website’s maximum execution time is limited, then WordPress will often fail to upload larger files. This is when you encounter fatal errors and other specific issues like “link you followed has expired” error.

How To Fix The Error

To fix the “link you followed has expired” error, all you need to do is to increase the maximum upload size and execution times for your website.

This requires editing a core WordPress file and copying a few lines of code. It can be done in several different ways. We’ll walk you through the process. Remember not to follow all these methods. If one method didn’t work, reverse the changes you’ve made and try the next method. Not all at once!

Note: Backup your website and make copies of files before making any changes to the core WordPress files. Follow this guide to learn how to setup WordPress backups. If you don’t know what you’re doing, seek help from an expert.

Method 1: Edit .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is a core file used by WordPress. We can edit this file and copy our code to change the default upload limits set by WordPress.

To edit the file, you need to access the WordPress files in your server. We’ll show you how to access the server using the CPanel. But, you can also use an FTP client app as well.

Step 1: Login To CPanel

If you can’t find the CPanel via your hosting account, simply type “cpanel” at the end of your website domain name (eg: yourwebsite.com/cpanel).

Then enter the CPanel username and password. These details are usually provided to you in the welcome email your hosting provider sends to you.

Step 2: Find And Open The File Manager

cpanel-file-manager

In the CPanel, find and open the File Manager app. Then it will prompt you where you want to navigate to. Choose to open the public.html folder.

Step 3: Copy The Code

edit-htaccess-file

On the public.html folder you’ll see the .htaccess file. Right-click on this file and choose Edit.

Then copy and paste the following lines of code at the end of the .htaccess file

php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Once you’re done, click Save.

copy-the-code

This method usually fixes the error. If it didn’t work, try the next method.

Method 2: Create A PHP.ini File

If editing the .htaccess file didn’t work, you can create and upload a PHP.ini file into your server to fix the issue.

Some hosting servers will automatically create a PHP.ini file in your server. Follow the steps detailed in the previous method to navigate to the public.html folder in your server and see if there’s already a PHP.ini file in your server.

If not, let’s create one.

Step 1: Create A PHP.ini file

The PHP.ini file has to be created locally on your computer and then you can upload it to your server.

First, open a blank notepad and copy and paste the following lines of code into it.

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

create-phpini-file

Then Save the note file as php.ini and choose file type as “All Files”

Step 2: Upload The File

Navigate back to your server and go to the public.html folder. Then upload the PHP.ini file that you’ve just created on your computer.

This will fix the error and increase the upload size limits to 64MB.

In Conclusion

These methods should help fix the issue and allow you to upload themes and plugins with larger sizes through the WordPress dashboard.

However, some shared hosting providers may have restrictions that will prevent you from uploading large files. If the issue persists, contact your web hosting provider and ask for their help.

In the future, use an FTP client app like Filezilla to directly access your server and upload themes and plugins using the FTP client for easily uploading larger files.

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22 Comments Leave a Reply
  1. Amaira Sen says

    April 16, 2019 at 8:05 am

    I have solved this error by changing a PHP.ini file and to do so you need to go to wamp> PHP> php.ini file and chnage the configuration to
    post_max_size = 750M
    upload_max_filesize = 750M
    max_execution_time = 5000
    max_input_time = 5000
    memory_limit = 1000M

    Reply
    • Dan says

      December 16, 2021 at 5:49 am

      Can’t find the php.ini and I already tried to create one and upload as suggested but still no working

      Reply
  2. Paul says

    July 3, 2019 at 10:19 am

    Thanks, editing the php.INI file on the server worked for me.

    Reply
  3. Rey says

    November 8, 2019 at 8:16 am

    Awesome worked!!
    thankyou

    Reply
  4. Raymond says

    January 17, 2020 at 5:06 am

    upload_max_filesize = 64M
    post_max_size = 64M
    max_execution_time = 300

    Thanks! it did reall works.

    Reply
  5. Shirsh Mahadik says

    February 18, 2020 at 9:23 am

    Than you so much! Modifying .htaccess, did fix the error.

    Reply
  6. MShah says

    March 24, 2020 at 10:12 am

    first of all my theme size is 2mb
    second i am using (URL removed) so how i access the mentioned/said files

    Reply
    • Slobodan says

      March 25, 2020 at 10:42 am

      Free hosting comes with a lot of limitations. It’s highly unlikely you can access settings like that. The only approach is to contact the hosting provider and explain the issue.

      Reply
  7. king says

    March 24, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    Thank you so much! That modifying did the job, continue with good work.

    Reply
  8. Edin Chavez says

    April 7, 2020 at 10:14 pm

    Thank you so much. You are awesome 🙂 That worked perfectly.

    Reply
  9. Ian says

    April 21, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    Thank you. The .htaccess edit you suggested solved the problem I was having straightaway.

    Reply
  10. dan says

    April 30, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    This was just the ticket. Thanks.

    Reply
  11. Ahmed Ragab says

    May 2, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    Really , thanks very much.

    Reply
  12. Milton says

    June 16, 2020 at 9:22 pm

    Thank you so much. Method 1 fixed the problem. Stay Safe!

    Reply
  13. Winston says

    May 8, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    thank you, the .htaccess change worked for me.

    Reply
  14. Emerald says

    May 25, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    God bless u bro…God bless! It worked

    Reply
  15. nikki says

    June 3, 2021 at 11:02 am

    it worked Thanks alot 🙂 🙂

    php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
    php_value post_max_size 64M
    php_value max_execution_time 300
    php_value max_input_time 300

    Reply
    • Dev Sharma says

      June 17, 2021 at 11:20 am

      Hey Nikki, You’re welcome. Happy to help :).

      Reply
  16. Dan says

    December 16, 2021 at 5:26 am

    Damn, there’s no .htaccess in my public.html folder

    Reply
  17. Ravikant Pranitaa says

    December 25, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    Hey Bro its great i m learning a lot here…. thanx for ur education…. 1st method worked and solved the issues. Thanx Dear.

    Reply
  18. James Wazzy says

    April 17, 2022 at 2:26 am

    Thanks to you! I solved this by changing the Php Multi Ini Config, its writes automatically to my .htaccess.

    Reply
  19. SeMa says

    August 15, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    Thank you! I followed Method 1, edited .htaccess file and it worked!

    Reply

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