Experience seamless progress on your WordPress site by effortlessly resolving the "The Link You Followed Has Expired" error. With straightforward solutions at your disposal, you can quickly overcome this issue and continue enhancing your website with ease.
Understanding "The Link You Followed Has Expired" Error
"The Link You Followed Has Expired" error in WordPress refers to an issue encountered when uploading files or media, or during the installation or update of themes or plugins, where the link used to perform these actions has become invalid due to exceeding certain limitations set by the WordPress installation or the hosting environment. This error message is displayed to users when the file being uploaded exceeds the maximum file upload size or when the server's PHP execution time limit is surpassed.
WordPress imposes restrictions on file uploads to ensure the stability, security, and optimal performance of websites. These limitations, including the maximum file upload size and PHP execution time limit, are typically defined by the hosting provider or can be customized in the server settings. When the file size exceeds the allowed limit or the processing time takes longer than the PHP execution time limit, WordPress interrupts the operation and displays the "The Link You Followed Has Expired" error message.
How to Check the Media Upload Limit
To check the media upload limit in WordPress, you can follow these steps:
First, Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. This is typically accessed by adding "/wp-admin" at the end of your website URL (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
Once you're logged in, hover over Media on the left side menu and click on Add New.
You will find the "Max upload file size" right below the upload option.
Common Causes for Encountering this Error
1. File Size Limit:
One common cause of this error is when the file being uploaded exceeds the maximum file upload size set in WordPress. By default, WordPress has a maximum file upload size limit, typically around 2MB or 8MB. If you attempt to upload a file larger than this limit, you may encounter the "The Link You Followed Has Expired" error.
2. PHP Execution Time Limit
When uploading or processing large files, it may take longer for the server to execute the necessary PHP scripts. If the processing time exceeds the server's PHP execution time limit, WordPress interrupts the operation, resulting in the expiration error. The default PHP execution time limit varies among hosting environments and can be typically around 30 seconds to a few minutes.
3. Inadequate Server Resources
If the server hosting your WordPress website has limited resources, such as memory or processing power, it may struggle to handle larger file uploads or resource-intensive operations, resulting in the expiration error.
4. Network Issues
Occasionally, network connectivity issues or interruptions during the upload process can lead to the expiration error. This can happen if the network connection is lost or unstable while uploading files.
Out of all the aforementioned causes, the file size limit is the most frequently encountered issue when facing the "The Link You Followed Has Expired" error in WordPress.
How to Resolve the Error
There are three primary ways to resolve this issue:
Modifying your .htaccess file
Adjusting your PHP.ini file
Using a functions.php file.
All of these methods are discussed below.
Method 1: Modifying the .htaccess File
The .htaccess file is used to control your server's functionality. Modifying it can increase your file upload size limit. Here's how you do it:
Access Your .htaccess File:
Use an FTP client like FileZilla to access your website's files. The .htaccess file should be in the Root directory of your website.
Modify the .htaccess File:
Open the .htaccess file and add the following lines of code at the bottom:
bash
php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300
These lines increase your upload limit to 64MB and extend your server's maximum execution time.
Save and Upload Your Changes:
Save your changes and re-upload the .htaccess file to your server. Now, try uploading your WordPress theme or plugin again.
Read: An Introduction to .htaccess
Method 2: Adjusting the PHP.ini File
The PHP.ini file holds various settings that define how your server handles PHP. If adjusting the .htaccess file doesn't work, you can try tweaking your PHP.ini file.
Access Your PHP.ini File:
You can usually find this file in the wp-admin directory. If you don't see it, create a new file and name it php.ini.
Modify the PHP.ini File:
Open the file and add or modify the following lines:
bash
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
Save and Upload Your Changes:
Save your file and upload it back to the wp-admin directory. Now try uploading your file again.
Method 3: Using the functions.php File
The functions.php file allows you to add features and functions to your WordPress website. You can use it to increase your upload size limit.
Access Your functions.php File:
This file is located in your WordPress theme folder (/wp-content/themes/your-theme/).
Modify the functions.php File:
Add the following code at the bottom of your functions.php file:
php
@ini_set( 'upload_max_size' , '64M' );
@ini_set( 'post_max_size', '64M');
@ini_set( 'max_execution_time', '300' );
Save and Upload Your Changes
Save your changes and re-upload the functions.php file. Then, try to upload your WordPress theme or plugin again.
Conclusion
The 'The Link You Followed Has Expired' error is a common issue in WordPress due to file size and execution time limitations. With the methods mentioned above, you can resolve this error and enhance your WordPress site. Remember to backup your files before making any changes.