WordPress error "This file cannot be imported - It may be caused by file_uploads being disabled in your php ini"

The "This file cannot be imported" error in WordPress appears when trying to import content via Tools > Import with a file that exceeds the upload size limit, is in an incorrect format, or when the PHP file_uploads directive is disabled. On Ultra Web Hosting, file_uploads is always enabled, so the issue is almost always file size or format.

01. Increasing the Upload Limit

1. Log in to cPanel and open "MultiPHP INI Editor"
2. Select your domain from the dropdown at the top
3. Find upload_max_filesize and set it to 256M
4. Find post_max_size and set it to 256M (must be equal to or larger than upload_max_filesize)
5. Click Apply and retry your WordPress import

For more details on PHP upload settings, see Changing Maximum Upload Size.

02. Checking the File Format

WordPress's built-in importer (Tools > Import > WordPress) expects a WordPress eXtended RSS (WXR) file with the .xml extension. This is the file format produced by Tools > Export in WordPress.

Common format mistakes:

Wrong file type - If you're trying to import a SQL database dump (.sql), that goes through phpMyAdmin or SSH, not the WordPress importer. The WordPress importer is for content (posts, pages, comments, media references), not the database itself.

Compressed file - The importer does not accept .zip or .gz files. Extract the .xml file first and upload that.

Corrupted export - If the export was interrupted, the XML file may be truncated. Re-export from the source site.

03. Splitting Large Import Files

If your WXR export file is very large (over 50 MB), even increasing the PHP limit may not be enough because the import process can time out or run out of memory while processing.

Use the WXR File Splitter to break the file into smaller chunks:

Online tool: WP-CLI import can handle large files from the command line without the web upload limit.

Plugin: Search for "WXR File Splitter" on GitHub. It splits large WordPress export files into smaller pieces you can import one at a time.

If the import fails mid-process with a memory error, increase PHP memory: see Increase PHP Memory.

04. Alternative Import Methods

WP-CLI (recommended for large imports): If you have SSH access, WP-CLI can import WordPress export files with no size limit and no timeout:

wp import export-file.xml --authors=create

You may need to install the WP-CLI import command first: wp package install wp-cli/import-command

Migration plugins: For full site migrations (not just content), plugins like All-in-One WP Migration or Duplicator handle both files and database together. See our migration guide.

Quick Recap: WordPress Import Errors

1. Increase upload_max_filesize and post_max_size in MultiPHP INI Editor
2. File must be valid WordPress XML (.xml from Tools > Export)
3. Split large files with WXR File Splitter for files over 50 MB
4. Use WP-CLI for large imports via SSH
5. Check post_max_size - must be >= upload_max_filesize

Last updated March 2026 · Browse all WordPress articles