Do you want to allow boosted file types to be uploaded to your forms? Allowing more file formats to be uploaded to your site can provide more than convenience for you and your users.

In this tutorial, we'll show yous how to add different file extensions, without compromising the security of your site.

  • File Types Allowed By Default
  • Adding Boosted File Upload Types
    • Using Preset File Types
    • Adding Custom File Types
    • Allowing Multiple MIME Types
  • Tips for Securing WordPress File Uploads
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Note: Are you looking for instructions on creating a file upload form? And so be sure to bank check out our guide to the File Upload field for all the details.

File Types Allowed By Default

For security reasons, WordPress but allows certain types of files. The default file formats include:

  • Images like .png, .gif, .jpg
  • Documents such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf
  • Audio similar .wav, .mp3, .mp4
  • Video like .mpg, .mov, .wmv

Please notation that some of the file types below do have the potential to be misused. That's why WordPress doesn't enable them by default.

  • Images such equally .svg, .bmp
  • Documentslike .psd, .ai, .pages
  • Code files such as .css, .js, .json
  • Video like .flv, .f4l, .qt

Calculation Additional File Upload Types

To configure your site to accept additional file formats, you'll demand to install File Upload Types, a free WordPress plugin by WPForms.

Notation: For details on how to add a plugin to your site, exist sure to check out WPBeginner'due south guide on installing plugins.

Using Preset File Types

One time you've installed the File Upload Types plugin, in your WordPress admin surface area become to Settings » File Upload Types.

File upload types page

On this page, you lot can add preset file types by checking the box adjacent to the file blazon.

Enable extension checkbox

Once you've selected the file types you'd like to add, click the Save Settings button to salve your changes.

Click save settings button preset file

Adding Custom File Types

If you lot'd like to include a file format that is non found in the preset list, you can add your own.

To do this, scroll down to the ADD CUSTOM FILE TYPES section. And so, yous'll need to specify a file format. This is done through 3 fields:

  • File Description: The proper noun of the file blazon. This will only be visible in your File Upload Types settings, and then you can add together any details that brand sense to yous.
  • MIME Type: The category and data type represented by the new file type.
  • Extension: The extension type that volition be associated with this file (due east.thou., .jpg, .docx, etc.).

Note: MIME is a grade of file identification on the web. For more details on MIME, you lot can check out Mozilla's documentation for a complete list of common MIME types. To make up one's mind what MIME type a file is, you tin utilise an online file checker.

Add custom file types section

Equally an example, here are the fields with the information for a YAML file type:

YAML file extension

You lot can besides add multiple custom file types by clicking on the plus (+) icon. If you'd like to remove a file type, click the trash tin can icon.

Plus and trash icons

Once you lot've filled in all these details, click on the Relieve Settings button to use the settings to your site.

Click save settings button

Allowing Multiple MIME Types

If you're adding a file type that has several aliases or possible MIME types, you can likewise add these into the MIME Types field. This is particularly helpful to ensure the proper uploading of files that may have the same extension, simply different MIME types.

Annotation: If you're not sure if your file blazon has aliases, you can bank check out this reference guide for a fractional listing.

In order to use this characteristic, y'all'll need to click the Enable multiple MIME type support option within the plugin.

Enable multiple MIME type support

Note: If yous don't see this banner in your plugin, this means this option is already enabled on your site.

One time you've enabled this characteristic, yous can then add aliases to the MIME Type field, separating each type by a comma.

For example, we'll add the application/photoshop, application/psd, and paradigm/photoshop aliases for a Photoshop file:

Photoshop file example

Once those settings are added, make sure to click the Relieve Settings button to apply the settings to your site.

Click save settings photoshop file example

Tips for Securing WordPress File Uploads

Information technology may be convenient to allow users to upload all sorts of file formats, however, this can lead to security issues. Yous tin can proceed your site more secure while assuasive for specific upload types by following these tips:

  • Requiring users to be registered and logged in to submit your form.
  • Limiting file upload types to only those that you really need.
  • Limiting the file upload size.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

I added my additional file type, but I'm still seeing the following fault:

File blazon not allowed

In this case, you'll want to exist sure that the file y'all're trying to upload has a MIME blazon that matches the one you've added to your site. You can apace and hands check your file'due south MIME type to be sure its type matches.

If your MIME type matches and still won't upload, it's important to know that WPForms does blacklist certain file types. Some file types will be blocked from being uploaded, fifty-fifty if they've been added using the File Upload Types plugin. The complete list of file types are:

ade adp app asp
bas bat cer cgi
chm com cpl crt
csh csr dll drv
exe fxp flv hlp
hta htaccess htm html
htpasswd inf ins isp
jar js jse jsp
ksh lnk mdb mde
mdt mdw msc msi
msp mst ops pcd
php pif pl prg
ps1 ps2 py rb
scr sct sh shb
shs swf tmp torrent
url vb vbe vbs
vbscript wsc wsf wsh
dfxp onetmp

That'due south information technology! You can at present allow users to upload additional file types using your file upload course.

Exercise yous desire more tips for securing your site? Then be sure to cheque out our complete guide to WPForms security for all the details.