How to Fix “The Link You Followed Has Expired” Error in WordPress

The “The Link You Followed Has Expired” error typically appears when uploading large files, plugins, or themes that exceed your server’s maximum upload or execution limits. This guide provides steps to resolve the error by increasing these limits.

Step 1: Increase Maximum Upload Size and Execution Time in php.ini

If you have access to the php.ini file, you can adjust the upload size and execution time settings to allow larger uploads.

1. Access php.ini in File Manager

   • Log into the Shared Hosting Control Panel, go to File Manager, and locate php.ini in the root directory or public_html folder.

2. Edit php.ini

   • Add or update the following lines in php.ini:

     ini

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     upload_max_filesize = 10M post_max_size = 10M max_execution_time = 300

   • Adjust upload_max_filesize and post_max_size based on your upload requirements (e.g., 20M for 20 MB). The max_execution_time can be set to 300 seconds or longer if necessary.

3. Save Changes and Refresh

   • Save the file and try re-uploading your file, theme, or plugin in WordPress to see if the issue is resolved.

Note: If you don’t have access to php.ini, try the methods below.

Step 2: Modify .htaccess File

If editing php.ini is not possible, you can use .htaccess to adjust upload and execution limits.

1. Edit .htaccess in File Manager

   • In the Shared Hosting Control Panel, go to File Manager and locate the .htaccess file in the root directory.

2. Add Upload and Execution Code

   • Add the following code at the top of the .htaccess file:

     apache

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     php_value upload_max_filesize 10M php_value post_max_size 10M php_value max_execution_time 300 php_value max_input_time 300

3. Save and Test

   • Save the .htaccess file and attempt to upload the file again.

Important: Some shared servers may restrict .htaccess modifications. If the error persists, contact our support team for assistance.

Step 3: Increase Limits in wp-config.php

If neither php.ini nor .htaccess modifications resolve the issue, you can try increasing limits in the wp-config.php file.

1. Edit wp-config.php

   • In the Shared Hosting Control Panel, open File Manager and find wp-config.php in your WordPress root directory.

2. Add the Memory and Execution Code

   • Add the following code near the bottom of wp-config.php:

     php

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     @ini_set('upload_max_size' , '10M' ); @ini_set('post_max_size', '10M'); @ini_set('max_execution_time', '300');

3. Save Changes

   • Save the file and attempt to upload your file again.

Step 4: Contact Our Support Team

If the error persists after trying these methods, contact our support team for assistance. We can help adjust server configurations to resolve the issue.

Tips for Managing Uploads in WordPress

• Check File Sizes Before Uploading: Ensure files don’t exceed the adjusted limits.
• Use FTP for Large Files: If your files are very large, you can upload them via FTP to the wp-content/uploads folder and then access them in the Media Library.
• Enable EWWW Image Optimizer: If image size is a factor, use EWWW Image Optimizer to compress images before or after uploading.

Following these steps should help you resolve “The Link You Followed Has Expired” error in WordPress. If you need further assistance, please contact our support team.