The Link You Followed Has Expired

How to Fix “The Link You Followed Has Expired” Error in WordPress (Step-by-Step)

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Have you ever tried uploading a WordPress theme or plugin and seen the frustrating message:

“The link you followed has expired”?

Don’t worry — you’re not alone. This is a very common error in WordPress, and the good news is: it’s easy to fix. In this post, I’ll explain why this happens and show you three simple ways to fix it in less than 5 minutes.

🔍 What Causes “The Link You Followed Has Expired” in WordPress?

This error usually appears when you’re uploading a theme or plugin that is larger than the upload limit set on your server.

By default, WordPress (and your hosting provider) may set limits like:

  • upload_max_filesize = 2MB
  • post_max_size = 8MB
  • max_execution_time = 30 seconds

If your theme or plugin is larger than this limit, the upload fails and WordPress shows this error.

✅ How to Fix the Error (3 Easy Methods)

You can fix this by increasing your server’s upload limit. Here are three methods:

1. Edit the .htaccess File

You can add these lines to the bottom of your .htaccess file (found in your root WordPress folder):

php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Save the file and try uploading your theme/plugin again.

⚠️ Make sure to back up your .htaccess file before editing.

2. Edit the php.ini File

If your hosting allows custom php.ini files, add or edit these lines:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Save the file and restart your server if needed.

3. Edit Your functions.php File

You can also add this code to your theme’s functions.php file:

@ini_set(‘upload_max_size’, ’64M’);
@ini_set(‘post_max_size’, ’64M’);
@ini_set(‘max_execution_time’, ‘300’);

⚠️ Tip: Always use a child theme to make this change so you don’t lose it during updates.

🛠 Best Practice: Use a Plugin or Contact Hosting

If you’re not comfortable editing code, you can use plugins like:

  • WP Increase Upload Filesize
  • WP Maximum Execution Time Exceeded

Or contact your hosting provider to increase the limits for you.

🎯 Final Thoughts

“The link you followed has expired” is not a serious error, and it’s easy to fix with a quick update to your server limits.

If you frequently upload large files or themes, increasing these limits can save you a lot of time and frustration.