Do you see the ‘The fix link you followed has expired’ error in WordPress? This issue provides little hints as to what is wrong, making it tough for WordPress newcomers to resolve.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to fix the WordPress error simply ‘the link you followed has expired’. We’ll also discuss what causes this problem and how to avoid it in the future.

What Causes the ‘The Link You Have Followed Has Expired’ Error?

The ‘The link you followed has expired’ problem typically happens when you attempt to upload a WordPress theme or plugin that exceeds the file size limits established by your WordPress hosting provider.

Here’s what the message looks like:

Web hosting companies limit the size of files you can upload to WordPress to improve the overall efficiency of your web server. You see, huge files can make your website unstable or slow.

You may view the file size upload limit in your WordPress dashboard by clicking on Media » Add New.

However, if these settings are too low or you try to upload a larger file, you may see problems such as memory exhaustion or maximum execution time. When you try to upload a WordPress theme or plugin, you will see the error message ‘The URL you followed has expired’. With that in mind, let us look at how to easily resolve this problem.

Fix The Link You Have Followed Has Expired’ Error in WordPress

The simplest solution to fix ‘The link you followed has expired’ is to increase the file upload size, PHP memory, and execution limitation of time on your WordPress website. There are several ways of doing this. We’ll show you all of them, and you may pick the one that looks easier and works in your hosting environment.

Use the quick links below to get to the methods you want to use:

• Method 1: Increasing Limits Using WPCode (Recommended)
• Method 2: Increasing Limits in the .htaccess File
• Method 3: Increasing Limits in the php.ini File
• Method 4: Update Your PHP Version

Method 1: Increasing Limits Using WPCode (Recommended)

Increasing limitations in the functions.php file is simple, however, this solution has an issue. If you modify or upgrade your WordPress theme, your site will return to its former limits. This is why we recommend using WPCode instead.

WPCode is the greatest code management plugin for WordPress, allowing you to put code snippets anywhere on your site without altering theme files like functions.php. This ensures that any adjustments you make are not lost when your theme is updated or changed.

First, install and activate WPCode. For additional information, visit our beginner’s guide to installing a WordPress plugin.

@ini_set( 'upload_max_size' , '120M' );
@ini_set( 'post_max_size', '120M');
@ini_set( 'max_execution_time', '300' );

In this code, we have extended the upload and post size restrictions to 120 megabytes, as well as the execution time to 300 seconds.

Feel free to change the numbers in upload_max_size and post_max_size to be larger than the file you’re attempting to upload. You can also set the max_execution_time to the time you believe it will take for the file to upload.

Finally, turn on the code snippet to activate it on your website.

Method 2: Increasing Limits in the .htaccess File

You can also boost your PHP resource limits by editing .htaccess, a basic WordPress file. You can do this using an FTP client or the File Manager program in cPanel.

Simply connect to your website through FTP and look for the .htaccess file in the root or public_html folder. Then, open it and edit it with a code editor.

Now, add the following lines of code to the bottom of your .htaccess file.

php_value post_max_size 128M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Similar to the previous way, you can change the values to be more than the file you are attempting to upload.

Finally, remember to save your modifications before uploading the file back to your website.

Method 3: Increasing Limits in the php.ini File

The php.ini file is a configuration file for PHP and WordPress. Connect to your WordPress site via FTP and locate the php.ini file in the root directory.

Most users use shared hosting accounts, therefore this file may not be in their site’s root folder. In that scenario, you must generate a blank php.ini file with a plain text editor such as Notepad and submit it to your website.

Now, edit the php.ini file and enter the following code:

upload_max_filesize = 128M
post_max_size = 128M
max_execution_time = 300

Make sure to save your modifications before uploading the file back to your website.

You can now go to your website and try to upload the theme or plugin file again. The error should be resolved, and you should be able to upload the file.

If it doesn’t, try the next option.

Method 4: Update Your PHP Version

Besides the preceding solutions, updating the PHP version may fix the ‘The URL you followed has expired’ error in WordPress. This is because an outdated PHP version may cause compatibility issues, resulting in this error.

To safely update your PHP version in WordPress, see our instructions.

If none of the solutions listed above work, you should contact your WordPress hosting provider to see if the issue is on their end. If this is your first time contacting WordPress help, read our tutorial on how to do it correctly.

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The Final Conclusion

In conclusion, resolving the “The link you followed has expired” error in WordPress involves a few straightforward steps that can effectively tackle the underlying issues. By increasing the upload file size limit, adjusting the PHP settings, and using plugins or manual methods to extend the expiration time for links, you can ensure a smoother user experience on your WordPress site.

Additionally, staying vigilant with regular updates and maintenance will help prevent such errors from occurring in the future, ultimately enhancing the performance and reliability of your website. With these strategies in place, you can confidently address and overcome the “expired link” challenge, keeping your WordPress site running smoothly and efficiently.