While “the link you followed has expired” is a disappointing challenge to have, it’s not something that can’t be fixed.
In subsequent writing, we will outline the possible causes of the error, and how to fix it.
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What Causes “The link you have followed has expired” Error
The error message “The link you follow has expired” usually pops up when you’re trying to upload a file (plugin it theme) that exceeds the maximum file size limit set by your hosting provider.
Hosting providers usually do this to optimize the site size and/or speed as multiple uploads with larger file sizes can take a toll on the site.
How to fix “the link you followed has expired” error on WordPress
There are generally three ways to have this fixed, but then there’s a fourth that’s oftentimes more long-lasting.
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Increase the Limits in the functions.php File
This is the fastest method, but often gets reset if you switch or update themes. To do this, simply open the functions.php file in your WordPress theme editor and paste the code below.
define(‘WP_MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE’, ‘100M’);
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘128M’);
You can choose to replace the values of the Max upload size and Memory limit to suit your preference.
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Increase the Limits in the .htaccess File
The .htaccess File is a hidden file that contains configuration settings for your website. To increase the file upload limit using this file, add the following code to it.
php_value upload_max_filesize 100M
php_value post_max_size 100M
php_value memory_limit 128M
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Increase the Limits in the php.ini File
Just open the file in a text editor and find the following lines.
upload_max_filesize = 8M
post_max_size = 8M
memory_limit = 64M
Next, you want to have them replaced with your preference.
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Increase Limits Using WPcode
This is usually the most efficient method because, unlike the functions.php method, it won’t reset when you change or update your theme.
First, you need to have WP Code installed. The. Navigate through Code Snippets >> Add Snippet >> Add your Custom Code.
On the core type, make sure you have the PHP snippet selected, then input the following code.
@ini_set( ‘upload_max_size’ , ‘120M’ );
@ini_set( ‘post_max_size’, ‘120M’);
@ini_set( ‘max_execution_time’, ‘300’ );
You may increase the values to what will allow your files to upload correctly. Next, you want to toggle on the code snippet to make it active.
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Update your PHP Version
Although it’s not talked about enough, an outdated PHP Version can lead to this error message popping up. In fact, using WordPress is generally a challenge if your PHP version isn’t updated, as such, we recommend you do it first before considering other troubleshooting measures.
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Check for Conflicting Plugins
If after you have tried all the possible solutions and you’re still facing this problem, you may want to check if the issue isn’t related to plugin conflicts.
To do this, simply install the Health Check and Troubleshooting plugin. Then in the WordPress admin, navigate through Tools >> Site Health >> Troubleshooting. Finally, click on Enable troubleshooting mode. This will deactivate all your plugins and switch to the default theme.
You can then start switching everything on one after the other to spot the plugin that’s causing the issue.
