Are you trying to upload a file to your WordPress Media Library only to be met with a message telling you "Sad, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" and/or "[filename] has failed to upload"?

Equally the bulletin implies, WordPress limits the types of files that you can upload to your site for security reasons. However, by adding a small lawmaking snippet to your site's wp-config.php file or using a free plugin, you tin manually expand the listing of allowed file types so that yous're able to upload whatsoever type of file.

Here's what you lot'll learn in this article:

  • More than about the "Sorry, this file blazon is not permitted for security reasons" bulletin
  • How to fix the "Deplorable, this file type is non permitted for security reasons" message in WordPress

What Triggers the "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" Bulletin?

The "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" message
The "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" bulletin

Every bit we explained above, WordPress' default configuration limits the types of files that you tin can upload to your site for security reasons.

Past default, the file types that y'all tin upload are:

Images:

  • .jpg
  • .jpeg
  • .png
  • .gif
  • .ico

(Suggested reading: JPG vs JPEG: Understanding the Most Common Image File Format)
Videos:

  • .mp4
  • .m4v
  • .mov
  • .wmv
  • .avi
  • .mpg
  • .ogv
  • .3gp
  • .3g2

Documents:

  • .pdf
  • .doc
  • .ppt, .pptx, .pps, .ppsx
  • .odt
  • .xls, .xlsx
  • .psd

Audio:

  • .mp3
  • .m4a
  • .ogg
  • .wav

If you're trying to upload a file type that's not on the list above, yous're likely going to run across the "Sad, this file type is non permitted for security reasons" error. Or, you'll also come across information technology as "[filename] has failed to upload".

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For example, if you lot're trying to use your own custom fonts on your WordPress site, you lot might be trying to upload a custom font file to WordPress in the .tff and/or .woff formats. Because those formats are not allowed past default, WordPress will evidence you the "Lamentable, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" error instead of letting yous upload them.

Here's an example where nosotros tried to upload a .woff file to our test site:

Uploading a .woff file triggers the message
Uploading a .woff file triggers the message

How to Fix the "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" Error in WordPress

Beneath, we'll prove you ii ways how to fix the "Lamentable, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" error in WordPress:

  1. By editing your site's wp-config.php file
  2. By using a gratuitous WordPress plugin

1. Add New Permitted File Types Using wp-config.php

WordPress includes an ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS selection that you can enable in your site'southward wp-config.php file. Once enabled, you'll be able to upload any file type to your WordPress Media Library.

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Here's how to prepare it up – simply first, because you'll be editing your wp-config.php file, we'd recommend backing upwards your site before proceeding.

To go started, connect to your WordPress site via FTP/SFTP. Your site'due south wp-config.php file is located in the root binder, which is the same folder that has the wp-admin and wp-includes folders.

Right-click to edit the file, or download it to your computer:

How to edit your wp-config.php file
How to edit your wp-config.php file

Then, while editing the wp-config.php file, add the following code snippet above the /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line:

ascertain('ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS', truthful);

Where to add the code in your wp-config.php file
Where to add the lawmaking in your wp-config.php file

Brand sure to salve your changes and re-upload the file if needed.

To finish the process, you'll need to become to your WordPress dashboard and log out of your WordPress account. And then, you can immediately log back in.

After you've logged out/in, you lot should exist able to upload whatsoever file without triggering the mistake bulletin:

Successfully uploading a .woff file
Successfully uploading a .woff file

two. Apply the Complimentary WP Extra File Types Plugin

If you'd prefer not to edit your wp-config.php file and/or you want more than control over exactly which file types can exist uploaded to your site, you tin can use the free WP Actress File Types plugin at WordPress.org

One time you install and activate the plugin, go to Settings → Actress File Types in your WordPress dashboard.

There, you lot'll meet a lengthy list of file types. Cheque the box next to the file type(southward) that yous want to be able to upload and and then click Save Changes at the bottom:

How to allow file types in the plugin's settings
How to permit file types in the plugin's settings

If you don't come across the file type that you'd like to upload on the listing, you can also add together your own custom file types at the bottom of the plugin'due south settings list:

How to add your own custom file type
How to add your own custom file blazon

Alternative Plugins

In some instances, there may be better alternative plugins to enable specific file types. For example, in our tutorial on how to enable SVGs in WordPress, we recommend the free Safe SVG plugin. This not only enables the SVG filetype in the WordPress media library, information technology also sanitizes them upon upload.

Summary

Past default, WordPress limits the file types that y'all tin upload to your site for security reasons. If you lot try to upload a file type outside this listing of default file types, you'll see the "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons." bulletin.

One way to fix the upshot is to edit your wp-config.php file and add the ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS lawmaking snippet to allow unfiltered uploads. Or, you can also utilise the free WP Extra File Types plugin to control immune file types from your WordPress dashboard.

Finally, if, after allowing new file types, you nevertheless can't upload your file because of its size, you lot might desire to cheque out our boosted guides on:

  • How to Increase the WordPress Maximum Upload File Size
  • How to Ready the uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini Fault

And don't forget, you could also upload the file via SFTP if needed.

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