Are you seeing the ‘Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons’ error in WordPress? You can upload the most common file types to WordPress without errors. However, you may see this error if the file type is not supported by WordPress.
In this article, we’ll show you how to easily fix the ‘Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons’ error in WordPress.
What causes the error “Sorry, this file type is not allowed for security reasons”?
The error “Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons” appears when you try to upload a file type that WordPress doesn’t support.
You may have seen this error message when trying to add a new file to your media library.
For security reasons, WordPress restricts the types of files you can upload through your WordPress administrator. Allowed file types include all common image, video, document, and audio formats.
A solution to fix this problem is to upload the files via FTP or in the file management section of the WordPress hosting.
However, it’s not as convenient as using WordPress’s built-in media library.
So, let’s take a look at how to fix the “Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons” error in WordPress.
- Check and correct the spelling of the file type extension
- Allow new file types in WordPress with the file upload types plugin
- Keep your website secure by allowing additional file types
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“Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons” Check and correct the spelling of the file type extension
If you are trying to load a common file type that you have previously loaded without seeing this error, it is likely that you have mistyped the file extension.
A file extension is the 3- or 4-letter file type suffix that appears at the end of file names on your computer. For example, an image file might be called holidayphoto.png Where holiday photo is the filename and png is the extension.
These extensions are used by many programs and applications, including WordPress, to recognize file types. Below are the default file types and extensions supported by WordPress:
- Images: .png, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .ico
- Documents: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .pps, .ppsx, .odt, .psd
- Audio: .wav, .mp3, .m4a, .ogg
- Video: .mp4, .m4v, .mpg, .mov, .wmv, .avi, .ogv, .3gp, .3g2
Tip: While you can upload videos to WordPress, we always recommend uploading your videos to a video hosting site. This helps protect your website’s speed and performance.
When you get this error, the first thing we recommend is to check the file extension to make sure it’s correct. Sometimes you might accidentally delete a filename extension or mistype it when editing or saving a file on your computer.
In Windows 10, you can easily check file extensions. Just open the folder containing your file and click on the ‘Preview’ link at the top of the window. From here you need to check the box for ‘Filename extensions’.
After checking this box, you will see the extension after the filenames.
Note: This will display the extension of all files on your computer, not just those in this folder.
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Mac users can see file extensions by opening the Finder application and going to Finer » Preferences from the top menu.
This will open the Preferences popup window, where you need to click on the ‘Advanced’ tab and make sure the box next to the ‘Show all filename extensions’ option is checked.
Now that you can see the filename extensions, find the file you were trying to upload and make sure it has the correct extension.
If the extension is wrong, just right click and select the ‘Rename’ option to change the filename and add the correct extension.
Allow new file types in WordPress with the file upload types plugin
If you’re uploading a file type that WordPress doesn’t support, you can still upload it by adding it as a supported file type.
a File upload types The plugin is the easiest way to fix the error “Sorry, this file type is not allowed for security reasons.”
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First, you must install and enable the Plugin File Upload Types . For more details, check out our step-by-step guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
After activation, go to Settings » File Upload Types page in your WordPress admin area. Then just type the file type into the search box.
Then check the box next to the file types you want to enable and click the ‘Save Settings’ button at the bottom of the screen to save your changes.
Now go ahead and go back to the media library. You will be able to add your file(s) without receiving an error message.
Keeping your WordPress site secure by allowing additional file types
The reason WordPress blocks many file types is to help keep your WordPress site safe.
When you enable additional file types, it is highly recommended that you take some security measures to protect your website.
You must:
- Restrict unregistered users so they can only upload the file types they need. The best way to do this is with a file upload form.
- Use a WordPress security plugin to monitor your website for vulnerabilities.
- Regularly check your WordPress site for potentially malicious code.
- Consider limiting the size of uploaded files to prevent users from uploading large files that may contain malware.
- Add user activity log so you have records of which user uploaded which file
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We hope this article has helped you learn how to fix the “Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons” error in WordPress. You might also want to check out our expert choice of must-have WordPress plugins for your website and bookmark our definitive guide on how to fix the most common WordPress mistakes.
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