How to Fix WordPress Image Upload HTTP Error — Complete Guide

How to Fix It — Step by Step

1. Increase the PHP memory limit. Open wp-config.php and add this line just before the “That’s all, stop editing!” comment:

   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

   You should see: Image uploads start working immediately. If not, continue to the next step.

2. Fix the permissions on your uploads folder. Connect to your server via SSH and run:

   find wp-content/uploads -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
   find wp-content/uploads -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

   You should see: The uploads directory becomes writable and images save without error.

3. Switch the image editor from Imagick to GD. Add this to your theme’s functions.php or a site-specific plugin:

   function ceevee_prefer_gd_editor( $editors ) {
       $gd = array_search( 'WP_Image_Editor_GD', $editors );
       if ( $gd !== false ) {
           unset( $editors[$gd] );
           array_unshift( $editors, 'WP_Image_Editor_GD' );
       }
       return $editors;
   }
   add_filter( 'wp_image_editors', 'ceevee_prefer_gd_editor' );

   You should see: WordPress now uses GD to process images, bypassing any Imagick misconfiguration on your server.

4. Raise PHP upload limits. Create or edit a php.ini file in your WordPress root — or update these via your host’s control panel:

   upload_max_filesize = 64M
   post_max_size = 64M
   max_execution_time = 300

   You should see: Larger images upload without being cut off by size or timeout restrictions.

5. Test with all plugins deactivated. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, bulk-deactivate everything, and try uploading an image. Then reactivate plugins one by one until uploads break again.

   You should see: If the upload succeeds with plugins off, the last plugin you reactivated is the conflict — deactivate or replace it.

6. Regenerate your .htaccess file. Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes — no other changes needed. This rewrites your .htaccess without touching your permalink structure.

   You should see: A fresh .htaccess that clears any corrupted upload-related directives that may have been blocking the process.