How to Convert Files for WordPress: Media Upload Guide

The WordPress Media Upload Challenge

WordPress powers over 40% of the web, but its media handling has specific requirements and limitations that catch many users off guard. You try to upload a video and hit the file size limit. You upload an image in a modern format and WordPress rejects it. You embed a document and it does not display correctly.

Understanding which formats WordPress accepts, how to optimize files before uploading, and how to work around limitations saves hours of frustration. This guide covers everything you need to know about preparing files for WordPress -- from images and videos to documents and audio.

WordPress Default Allowed File Types

WordPress allows a specific set of file types by default. Attempting to upload an unsupported format produces the error: "Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons."

WordPress Upload Size Limits

The default maximum upload size depends on your hosting provider, not WordPress itself. Common limits:

To check your current limit, go to Media > Add New -- the maximum upload file size is displayed below the upload area.

Increasing the Upload Limit

Method 1: php.ini (if you have server access)

upload_max_filesize = 256M
post_max_size = 256M
max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 300
memory_limit = 512M

Method 2: .htaccess (Apache servers)

php_value upload_max_filesize 256M
php_value post_max_size 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Method 3: wp-config.php

@ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '256M');
@ini_set('post_max_size', '256M');
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M');

Images: The Most Common WordPress Uploads

Recommended Image Formats

JPEG (.jpg) -- Use for photographs and complex images. Best size-to-quality ratio for photos.

PNG (.png) -- Use for screenshots, graphics with text, logos with transparency. Larger than JPEG for photos but preserves sharp edges and transparency.

WebP (.webp) -- WordPress 5.8+ supports WebP natively. WebP files are 25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality. Use this as your primary format in 2026.

AVIF (.avif) -- WordPress 6.5+ added AVIF support. Even better compression than WebP (30-50% smaller than JPEG), but some older WordPress installations may not support it.

SVG (.svg) -- WordPress blocks SVGs by default due to security risks (SVGs can contain JavaScript). Enable with a plugin like "Safe SVG" if needed.

Image Optimization Before Upload

WordPress generates multiple image sizes (thumbnail, medium, large, full) for every uploaded image. A single 5 MB upload can create 20+ MB of files on your server. Optimizing before upload is critical.

Target file sizes for WordPress:

• Blog post images: 80-200 KB
• Hero/banner images: 150-400 KB
• Thumbnails: 20-50 KB
• Product photos: 100-300 KB

Use the image compressor to optimize images before uploading. For HEIC photos from iPhones, convert to JPEG or WebP first using the HEIC converter.

Recommended dimensions:

Blog content width:   800-1200px wide
Full-width hero:      1920px wide
Sidebar images:       400-600px wide
Thumbnails:           300x300px

For comprehensive image optimization strategies, the optimize images for website guide covers everything from format selection to lazy loading.

Converting Images for WordPress

Common conversions WordPress users need:

• HEIC to JPEG -- iPhone photos for WordPress: Use the HEIC converter
• TIFF to JPEG -- Scanned documents: Use the JPEG converter
• BMP to PNG -- Legacy screenshots: Use the PNG converter
• PSD to PNG -- Design exports: Export from Photoshop or convert online
• RAW to JPEG -- Camera photos: Process in Lightroom/darktable, export as JPEG

Video: Best Practices for WordPress

The Self-Hosting vs. Embedding Decision

Self-hosting video (uploading directly to WordPress) is almost never the right choice:

• Consumes hosting storage and bandwidth rapidly
• No adaptive bitrate streaming (one quality fits all)
• No video CDN (slow loading for distant visitors)
• Upload size limits restrict video length and quality
• Server CPU handles transcoding rather than a specialized service

Embedding video (YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia) is almost always better:

• Professional video players with adaptive streaming
• Global CDN delivery
• No impact on hosting storage or bandwidth
• Built-in analytics
• SEO benefits (YouTube is the second-largest search engine)

WordPress has built-in oEmbed support -- just paste a YouTube or Vimeo URL on its own line in the editor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

WordPress automatically converts this to an embedded player.

When You Must Self-Host

If you must self-host (private content, no third-party dependencies), use MP4 with H.264:

1. Convert to MP4 using the MP4 converter
2. Compress aggressively with the video compressor
3. Target 720p or 1080p maximum resolution
4. Keep files under 50-100 MB to avoid timeout issues

FFmpeg command for WordPress-optimized video:

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 24 -preset medium -vf scale=1280:720 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -movflags +faststart wordpress_video.mp4

The -movflags +faststart flag is essential -- it allows the video to start playing before fully downloading (progressive download). Without it, visitors must download the entire file before playback begins.

Audio: WordPress Podcast and Music Files

WordPress supports native audio embedding with its built-in [audio] shortcode and the Audio block in Gutenberg:

[audio src="/wp-content/uploads/podcast-episode-42.mp3"]

Recommended Audio Format: MP3

MP3 is the safest choice for WordPress audio:

• Universal browser support
• All podcast directories accept it
• WordPress generates audio player automatically
• Compact file size at 128-192 kbps

Convert audio files to MP3 before uploading:

• WAV to MP3 for uncompressed recordings
• MP3 compressor for reducing existing MP3 file sizes

Podcast Hosting Consideration

Like video, dedicated podcast hosting (Buzzsprout, Transistor, Podbean) is usually better than self-hosting audio in WordPress. These services provide:

• RSS feed management
• Distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
• Analytics and download tracking
• Bandwidth optimization

If you use a podcast host, embed episodes in WordPress via their provided player embed code.

Documents: PDF and Office Files

PDF: The Gold Standard

PDF is the most common document format on WordPress sites. Use cases include:

• Downloadable guides, whitepapers, and ebooks
• Menus, catalogs, and brochures
• Forms and applications
• Terms of service, privacy policies

Before uploading PDFs:

1. Compress using the PDF compressor -- Reduce scanned documents from 20+ MB to 2-3 MB
2. Optimize for web -- Ensure the PDF has fast web view enabled (linearized)
3. Add metadata -- Title, author, and description improve SEO and accessibility

Convert documents to PDF before uploading:

• Word to PDF for reports and articles
• PowerPoint to PDF for presentations
• Excel to PDF for data tables

Embedding PDFs in WordPress

WordPress does not natively preview PDFs inline. Options:

Gutenberg File block -- Provides a download link (no preview)

Google Docs Viewer embed:

<iframe
  src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=YOUR_PDF_URL&embedded=true"
  width="100%"
  height="600"
  frameborder="0"
></iframe>

PDF Embedder plugin -- Popular plugin for inline PDF viewing with navigation

For PDF accessibility requirements, the PDF accessibility guide covers compliance standards.

WordPress Performance Impact of Media Files

Every media file you upload affects your site's performance:

Essential Performance Plugins

• ShortPixel / Smush / Imagify -- Automatic image optimization on upload
• WP Super Cache / W3 Total Cache -- Caching for faster page loads
• Autoptimize -- Minifies CSS, JS, and HTML
• Lazy Load by WP Rocket -- Defers off-screen image loading

Enabling Additional File Types

If you need to upload a file type WordPress blocks, you have several options:

Method 1: wp-config.php (Allows All Types)

define('ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS', true);

Warning: This disables all file type checks and is a security risk. Only use on sites where all admin users are trusted.

Method 2: functions.php (Whitelist Specific Types)

function add_custom_mime_types($mimes) {
    $mimes['svg'] = 'image/svg+xml';
    $mimes['json'] = 'application/json';
    $mimes['md'] = 'text/markdown';
    $mimes['epub'] = 'application/epub+zip';
    return $mimes;
}
add_filter('upload_mimes', 'add_custom_mime_types');

Method 3: Use a Plugin

Plugins like "WP Add Mime Types" or "File Upload Types" provide a UI for managing allowed file types without code.

WordPress Media Conversion Workflow

Here is the recommended workflow for preparing files before uploading to WordPress:

Images

1. Resize to maximum needed dimensions (usually 1920px wide)
2. Convert to WebP or JPEG using the image compressor
3. Target 80-200 KB per image
4. Add descriptive filenames (not IMG_4532.jpg)
5. Upload and add alt text in WordPress

Videos

1. Convert to MP4 (H.264) using the MP4 converter
2. Compress to reasonable size with the video compressor
3. Upload to YouTube/Vimeo
4. Embed in WordPress using the URL

Documents

1. Convert to PDF using the appropriate converter
2. Compress with the PDF compressor
3. Upload to WordPress Media Library
4. Link using the File block

Audio

1. Convert to MP3 using the WAV to MP3 converter
2. Compress to 128-192 kbps
3. Upload to podcast host or WordPress
4. Embed using the Audio block

Related Resources

• Optimize Images for Website -- Comprehensive image optimization guide
• How to Convert Word to PDF -- Document conversion for WordPress
• Best Video Format for Social Media 2026 -- Video format best practices
• Web Browser File Format Support -- What formats browsers can play
• How to Reduce PDF File Size -- PDF compression techniques

Summary

WordPress media management comes down to three principles: use the right format (WebP/JPEG for images, MP4 for video, MP3 for audio, PDF for documents), optimize file size before uploading (compress everything), and let specialized services handle heavy lifting (YouTube for video, podcast hosts for audio). Following these practices keeps your WordPress site fast, your storage manageable, and your visitors happy.