If you’re uploading a theme or plugin to your WordPress site and encounter the message:
“The link you followed has expired.”
Don’t worry — this is a common error that usually happens because the file you’re uploading exceeds your server’s current upload limits.
This happens often with premium themes (like the Brick theme) or large plugins
Why This Error Happens?
WordPress has upload size and execution time limits, which are controlled by your server’s PHP settings. If the file size exceeds those limits, the upload fails and shows the “Link Expired” message.
How to Fix “Link Expired” Error When Uploading a Theme or Plugin in WordPress
Method 1: Increase PHP Limits
To allow larger uploads, increase the following values in your server’s PHP configuration:
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
You can do this using one of the following methods:
Option A: Add to .htaccess
- Go to the root folder of your WordPress installation.
- Edit or create a file called .htaccess.
- Add this code:
php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
Option B: Edit php.ini (if your host allows it)
- Locate your php.ini file.
- Add or update the following:
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
Method 2: Upload the Theme or Plugin Manually
If you don’t want to change server settings, you can upload the theme or plugin manually.
For Themes:
Extract the
.zipfile on your computer.Upload the extracted folder to:
/wp-content/themes/
Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting file manager.
- Log into WordPress and go to Appearance > Themes.
- Find the theme and click Activate.
For Plugins:
- Extract the plugin .zip on your computer.
- Upload the extracted folder to:
/wp-content/plugins/
Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting file manager.
- Log into WordPress and go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Find the plugin and click Activate.
- If unsure about editing PHP settings, your hosting provider can usually help very quickly.
Conclusion
The “Link Expired” error might be frustrating, but it’s easy to fix. Either increase your upload limits or use manual upload — both methods work great.
Still have questions? Leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to help!