How to Increase WordPress Upload Size Per Site in SpinupWP (The Right Way)

If you’re using SpinupWP and your WordPress site stubbornly says “Maximum upload file size: 64 MB”, you’re not alone.

SpinupWP does support per-site upload limits — but it’s not obvious, and most guides skip the crucial detail that actually fixes the issue.

This post shows you exactly how to increase the upload size on a site-by-site basis, and why it often doesn’t work the first time.

Why this happens in SpinupWP

SpinupWP creates one PHP-FPM pool per site.
That’s good — it means every site can have its own PHP settings.

However:

• SpinupWP also injects defaults via an included config file
• Those defaults often use php_admin_value
• php_admin_value overrides php_value
• So even if you set higher limits… WordPress still shows 64MB

This is the part most tutorials miss.

Step 1: Find your site’s PHP version and system user

In SpinupWP → Sites → Your Site, note:

• PHP Version (e.g. 8.3)
• System User (e.g. ai-effect)

You’ll need both.

Step 2: SSH into your server

From your local terminal:

ssh spinupwp@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Once connected, move to the PHP pool directory:

cd /etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d
ls

You’ll see files like:

ai-effect.conf
example-site.conf

Each .conf file = one website.

Step 3: Edit the correct pool file

Open your site’s file (replace with your site user):

sudo nano ai-effect.conf

Scroll to the bottom. You’ll likely see a line like this:

include=/sites/ai-effect.eu/.spinupwp-pool.conf

This is important — it’s where the 64MB limit usually comes from.

Step 4: Set upload limits the correct way

If you use php_value, it may be ignored.

Instead, use locked values with php_admin_value.

Add this below the include line:

php_admin_value[upload_max_filesize] = 256M
php_admin_value[post_max_size] = 256M
php_admin_value[memory_limit] = 512M
php_admin_value[max_execution_time] = 300
php_admin_value[max_input_time] = 300

Important rules

• post_max_size must be equal to or larger than upload_max_filesize
• memory_limit should be higher than both

Save and exit:

• CTRL + O → Enter
• CTRL + X

Step 5: Reload PHP (required)

Reload the correct PHP version:

sudo service php8.3-fpm reload

Reloading the wrong PHP version will change nothing.

Step 6: Confirm in WordPress

Go to WordPress → Media → Add New

You should now see something like:

Maximum upload file size: 256 MB

If it still says 64MB:

• Hard refresh the page (Cmd + Shift + R)
• Double-check the PHP version in SpinupWP