How to Fix WordPress HTTP Error When Uploading Images (Quick Guide)

Running into the “HTTP error” when uploading images to WordPress is frustrating, especially when everything else seems to be working fine.

There’s no detail in the message, no hint at the cause, and no obvious fix. It could be a plugin conflict, a server setting, or something else entirely.

This quick guide walks you through the most common causes and reliable fixes. Whether you’re a beginner or managing multiple sites, you’ll be able to get uploads working again in minutes.

What is the WordPress HTTP Error When Uploading Images?

The WordPress HTTP error is a common issue when uploading an image or video to the media library fails. Unfortunately, this error message is generic and doesn’t pinpoint the exact cause, making troubleshooting tricky.

This error message signals that something went wrong during the upload process, but WordPress couldn’t determine the reason. When you’ve found the perfect image and are suddenly faced with a vague error message, it can be very frustrating to have your workflow interrupted.

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Common Causes of the WordPress HTTP Error

Many things can trigger the WordPress HTTP error when uploading images. These errors can be caused by either client-side issues (like your browser or internet connection) or server-side problems (related to your hosting environment or WordPress configuration).

One of the most common causes of this error is insufficient memory to handle the upload process. If you are using image optimization or security plugins, this can also cause plugin or theme conflicts and interfere with media uploads. 

Additionally, if you haven’t configured your WordPress settings correctly, you can encounter issues like incorrect file permissions for the uploads directory, an outdated PHP version, or problems with image processing libraries like Imagick. Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as a temporary glitch in your browser’s connection to WordPress or an expired login session.

It is possible that the specific image file itself is causing the WordPress HTTP error. WordPress and web servers have limits on the maximum size of a file that can be uploaded; if your image exceeds this limit, the upload will fail. Depending on your hosting provider’s settings, this limit can range from a few megabytes to much larger. You can check your site’s current upload limit in your WordPress dashboard’s Media > Add New section.

The type of file you’re trying to upload matters as well. WordPress has a default list of permitted file types for security reasons. If you attempt to upload a file format that isn’t on this allowed list (e.g., trying to upload a .tff font file or an .svg file without specific configuration), you’ll likely encounter an error. 

Finally, how you name your image files can also lead to upload failures. Depending on your WordPress instance, file names containing special characters (like $, *, &, #, %, @, !, etc.), accent marks, spaces, or unusual punctuation can cause issues with the WordPress media library. It’s always best to use simple, web-friendly file names consisting only of letters, numbers, and hyphens to avoid such problems. For instance, a filename like “my-awesome-image-1.jpg” is much less likely to cause an error than “My Awesome Image #{1}.jpg”.

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Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix the WordPress HTTP Error

If you encounter the WordPress HTTP error while uploading images, you can try the following solutions to solve this problem:

#1 – Refresh and Re-log in to WordPress

Before diving into more complex fixes, it is a good idea to try the simplest one first. Refresh the page and try uploading the image again. Sometimes, temporary browser glitches or a brief loss of internet connectivity can cause the HTTP error.

If refreshing doesn’t work, log out of your WordPress admin area and log back in, as your login session might have expired, leading to a security token mismatch that prevents uploads.

#2 – Resize or Rename Your Image Files

As we mentioned above, large image files can exceed your server’s upload limits, triggering the HTTP error. To solve this, you can try reducing the image’s dimensions or compressing its file size using an image editor before uploading.

If you’re looking for WordPress plugins to do this, we recommend reading this excellent article from Patchstack on the best WordPress image optimization plugins.

Additionally, ensure your image file names don’t contain special characters, spaces, or accents, as these can cause conflicts; rename files using only letters, numbers, and hyphens (e.g., my-new-image.jpg).

In the past, we have also noticed that some poorly configured firewall rules block images with names that contain certain sensitive words. So, if your image name contains the phrase wp-login.php or wp-admin, you should consider renaming it to something else and trying again.

#3 – Deactivate Plugins and Themes Temporarily

Updating a plugin or theme in the background can easily cause a WordPress HTTP error. To check for this, temporarily deactivate all your plugins and try uploading the image; if it works, reactivate the plugins individually, testing after each, to find the problematic one.

If plugins aren’t the issue, switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four to see if your current theme is causing the error.

#4 – Increase PHP Memory Limit for WordPress

WordPress and its plugins require a certain amount of server memory (RAM) to function correctly. If an image upload process demands more memory than allocated, it can result in an HTTP error.

The exact step to modify this limit will vary depending on your hosting environment. Some hosting providers allow you to set this limit by defining the WP_MEMORY_LIMIT variable in the wp-config.php file, whereas others require you to modify the memory_limit directive in the php.ini file.

However, if you are using RunCloud, this can be done with just a single button.

Read the following documentation page to learn how RunCloud users can adjust PHP memory limits through their server management panel.

#5 – Check and Fix Uploads Folder Permissions

Linux servers assign specific permissions to each file and folder on your server. If you have configured incorrect file permissions on your wp-content/uploads folder, it can prevent WordPress from writing files to it.

By default, the directory permissions should be 755 or 744, and individual file permissions should be 644. You can check and change these permissions using an FTP client or your hosting control panel’s file manager.

If you are using RunCloud, you can resolve file permissions issues with a single click by going to Tools > Fix Ownership.

#6 – Update PHP Version and Server Settings

You might already know this, but running an outdated version of PHP can lead to various compatibility issues, including the HTTP error during image uploads. Ensure your server is using a recent, stable PHP version recommended by WordPress.

The exact steps to change your PHP runtime will vary depending on your operating system and hosting provider. However, if you are using RunCloud, you can easily update the PHP runtime of your WordPress application by going to Settings > PHP Version and simply selecting from the dropdown list. 

Additionally, if you need to use an outdated version of PHP for your website, then RunCloud also provides a secure way to use EOL PHP runtimes without compromising the security of your other web applications. 

#7 – Temporarily Disable Security Modules 

If your web server uses security modules like mod_security (an Apache module) or Content-Security-Policy (CSP) to block suspicious activity, these can occasionally misinterpret legitimate image uploads as a threat and block them, resulting in an HTTP error.

If you suspect this is the issue, you can temporarily disable the necessary security module and try again.

However, disable security features cautiously and only temporarily for testing, as they are important for your site’s protection.

We recommend consulting your host before making these changes, as they can have a lasting impact on your website. 

If you want to learn more about this, we recommend reading our previous post on using mod_security and OWASP for a web app firewall (WAF) to secure your website.

#8 – Use FTP or Add From Server Plugin as a Last Resort

Note: This is a workaround rather than a direct fix for the HTTP error, but it can be a lifesaver when you’re in a hurry.

If all other troubleshooting steps fail and you urgently need to upload images, then you can bypass the WordPress media uploader by using an FTP client (like FileZilla) to upload images directly to a temporary folder on your server. Read our previous articles to learn how to do this effectively.

• How to Use SFTP with FileZilla to Securely Transfer Files on RunCloud 
• How to Use FTP to Upload Files to WordPress Without Password [Step By Step]

After uploading via FTP, the images will not show up automatically in your WordPress dashboard, and you will need to run a specific WordPress command to register these images with the WordPress media library so they appear within your dashboard. ​

After logging in to your server via SSH, you can run the wp media import ~/picture.jpg command from your WordPress installation directory. This command instructs WordPress to scan the specified path (in this example, a file named picture.jpg within the home directory) and import it into the Media Library. 

If you have uploaded the image to a different directory, you can simply replace the ~/picture.jpg with the path of your image file. You can specify the exact path to a single image file or use wildcards like * to match and import multiple images simultaneously. 

After executing the above command, you will receive a confirmation message for each image imported into the WordPress media library. 

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Why Choose RunCloud for WordPress Hosting and Support?

RunCloud is a powerful server management panel that simplifies WordPress hosting, development, and maintenance, especially when tackling issues such as the HTTP error during image uploads.

RunCloud provides developers and agencies with the tools they need for efficient workflows. By offering a suite of specialized features, RunCloud ensures your WordPress sites run smoothly, securely, and are easy to manage. Here are a few reasons why you should use RunCloud to manage your servers:

Reason 1: Expert WordPress Support for Troubleshooting Errors

• Simplified Problem Isolation: RunCloud offers a clean and controlled server environment, which makes it easier to pinpoint the causes of WordPress errors, including the HTTP error.
• Staging Environments: RunCloud allows you to easily create WordPress staging environments. These allow you to test solutions for errors like the HTTP upload issue, experiment with PHP versions, or try deactivating plugins without affecting your live site, significantly reducing the risk of breaking things.
• Access to Logs: RunCloud provides straightforward access to server logs, which are invaluable for diagnosing complex WordPress errors that don’t provide much information on the front end.

Reason 2: Optimized Server Performance for Seamless Image Uploads

• Optimized Stack: RunCloud configures your server with an optimized stack (e.g., Nginx, Apache, various caching options like Redis or Memcached) out of the box. This ensures your WordPress site has the resources and speed needed for smooth operations, including handling image uploads efficiently and reducing the likelihood of HTTP errors caused by resource limitations.
• Easy Resource Scaling: If insufficient server resources are causing upload errors, RunCloud makes it simpler to manage your server resources or to guide you if you need to upgrade your server plan with your chosen cloud provider (like DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, Google Cloud, etc.).
• PHP Version Management: The RunCloud dashboard makes it easy to switch and manage multiple PHP versions. This is important for ensuring compatibility with the latest WordPress versions and for resolving HTTP errors that might stem from outdated or problematic PHP versions.

Reason 3: Easy Management and Advanced Security for WordPress Sites

• User-Friendly Interface: RunCloud provides an intuitive dashboard that simplifies complex server management tasks, such as setting up new WordPress sites, managing databases, and configuring SSL certificates, even for non-Linux experts.
• Git Integration and Deployment: For developers, RunCloud supports WordPress deployment via Git. This means you can version control your WordPress projects, including themes and plugins, and deploy changes systematically from your Git repository to your staging or production environments, streamlining your development workflow and making rollbacks easier. 
• Team Collaboration and Permissions: RunCloud facilitates teamwork by allowing you to assign specific permissions to team members for different servers and applications. This granular control ensures that colleagues or clients only have access to what they need, and changes can be tracked, enhancing security and accountability.
• Security Features: RunCloud implements various security measures, including easy SSL certificate deployment (Let’s Encrypt), firewall management, and regular security updates for server packages. This proactive approach helps protect your WordPress sites from threats that could otherwise lead to errors or downtime.

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Wrapping Up: Fixing WordPress HTTP Errors When Uploading Images

In this post, we have provided you with several solutions to resolve the HTTP error in your WordPress installation. By working through the solutions above, you should be able to restore your site’s media uploading functionality and get back to creating engaging content. 

Your hosting environment plays a crucial role in ensuring that your WordPress site runs smoothly and that image handling is optimized. RunCloud significantly simplifies the management of these aspects.

For instance, RunCloud supports Imagick, a powerful image processing library that WordPress can use to improve image manipulation and quality. RunCloud also uses various caching mechanisms (such as  Redis or Memcached), dramatically speeding up your website’s loading times by serving optimized images and content more efficiently. 

One of RunCloud’s most valuable features for troubleshooting and development is its provision for WordPress staging environments.

Before you apply any fix for the HTTP error, update PHP, or change critical settings on your live website, you can test everything in a safe, isolated staging copy. This allows you to confirm that your changes work as expected and don’t introduce new problems.

Ready to take control of your WordPress hosting and eliminate frustrating errors for good?

Sign up for RunCloud today and streamline your WordPress management.

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