"The link you followed has expired" error

This error usually appears when you're trying to upload a WordPress theme or plugin.

Most standard WordPress installations have server limits for file upload size and script execution time. If a file is too large, or if the upload takes too long, WordPress stops the process and shows this message:
“The link you followed has expired.”

To check your current upload limit:

1. Go to Media > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.

2. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see something like:
   “Maximum upload file size: 2 MB” (this is the default for many hosts).

If your file exceeds this limit—or if your server's timeout is too short—you’ll need to increase these values.

How to Fix the Error

Fortunately, this isn’t hard to solve. Below are several methods you can try. Each involves adding a few lines of code to your WordPress setup.

Important: Try only one method at a time. If it doesn’t work, undo the changes before trying the next one. This helps avoid conflicts or errors.

Method 1: Edit the php.ini File

If your hosting environment gives you access to the php.ini file, this is a reliable method.

Steps:

1. Connect to your site via FTP or your hosting control panel.

2. Locate or create a php.ini file in your root directory.

3. Make a backup before editing.

4. Add or update the following lines:

memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 64M
upload_max_size = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 1000

5. Save the file and reattempt your upload.

Note: Some shared hosts don’t allow access to this file. If that’s the case, try one of the other methods or contact your hosting provider.

Method 2: Edit the functions.php File

This file is part of your WordPress theme, so changes here only apply to the active theme. If you change themes later, you’ll need to reapply the changes.

Steps:

1. Go to Appearance > Theme File Editor or access the file via FTP.

2. Open the functions.php file of your active theme.

3. Add this code at the bottom:

@ini_set('upload_max_size', '100M');
@ini_set('post_max_size', '100M');
@ini_set('max_execution_time', '300');

4. Adjust the values if needed.

5. Save and test the upload again.

Avoid setting these values too high—large limits can expose your site to performance or security issues.

Method 3: Modify the .htaccess File

You can also set these limits through .htaccess, a configuration file in your WordPress root folder.

Steps:

1. Locate the .htaccess file (you may need to enable viewing hidden files).

2. Add this code at the bottom:

php_value upload_max_filesize 128M
php_value post_max_size 128M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

3. Save and check if the upload works.

If you see a server error after saving, your host may not allow .htaccess overrides for PHP settings.

Method 4: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the methods above work, or you’re unsure about editing files, reach out to your hosting support.

Send them a quick explanation and ask them to increase the following limits:

• memory_limit

• upload_max_size

• post_max_size

• upload_max_filesize

• max_execution_time

• max_input_time

Including a screenshot of the error can help them identify the issue faster.