If you are a Cloudflare free user using cPanel, Plesk, WHMCS, or other control panels to manage your hosting, you might have faced an issue where uploading files larger than 100 MB fails without any apparent reason. This problem is frustrating because:

  1. You don’t see any error code or logs.
  2. The restriction is not well-documented in Cloudflare’s free plan description.

This blog dives into the cause of this issue and provides real-world, tested solutions.


Problem Overview

Cloudflare’s free plan imposes a 100 MB upload limit for HTTP connections when proxied through their network. This restriction is applied silently, and it can cause:

  • File uploads via hosting control panels (e.g., cPanel, WHMCS, Plesk) to fail.
  • Confusion since no logs or error messages clearly indicate the issue.
  • Unnecessary troubleshooting efforts as traditional methods or AI-based suggestions rarely address this limitation.

Key scenarios where users encounter this issue:

  • Uploading website backups or large files through cPanel.
  • Using control panel-hosted file upload interfaces with a proxied domain.

Why This Happens

Cloudflare’s free plan proxies your domain traffic and limits the maximum file upload size to 100 MB for HTTP connections. When you attempt to upload a file larger than this limit:

  • The request fails without specific feedback.
  • Logs in your control panel or Cloudflare dashboard do not capture this restriction.

Solutions to Overcome the 100 MB Limit

Solution 1: Use Your Server’s IP Address for Login

Instead of using your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com) to log in to cPanel, Plesk, or WHMCS:

  1. Log in using the server’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.1/cpanel).
  2. Upload the files directly, bypassing Cloudflare’s proxy.

Note: Ensure your PHP settings (upload_max_filesize and post_max_size) support the larger file size before attempting this solution.

Solution 2: Temporarily Turn Off Proxied Mode

Cloudflare’s proxy mode (orange cloud in the DNS settings) is the feature enforcing this limit. To bypass it temporarily:

  1. Log in to your Cloudflare dashboard.
  2. Go to DNS.
  3. Locate the A or CNAME record pointing to your server.
  4. Toggle the proxy mode to “DNS only” (gray cloud icon).
  5. Upload your file using your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com).
  6. After uploading, re-enable proxy mode (orange cloud icon) to benefit from Cloudflare’s features.

Caution: Turning off proxy mode will expose your server’s IP address temporarily.

Solution 3: Upgrade to a Paid Plan

Cloudflare’s paid plans offer a higher upload limit:

  • Pro Plan: 200 MB
  • Business Plan: 500 MB
  • Enterprise Plan: Customizable (as per agreement)

While upgrading might seem expensive for small-scale users, it’s a viable long-term solution for businesses handling frequent large uploads.


Comparison Table: Cloudflare Free vs Paid Plans

Feature Free Plan Pro Plan Business Plan Enterprise Plan
Max Upload Size 100 MB 200 MB 500 MB Customizable
DDoS Protection Yes (Standard) Yes Advanced Advanced
Performance Boosts Basic Moderate High Enterprise Level
Custom Rules Limited Moderate Extensive Fully Customizable
Cost Free $20/month $200/month Varies

Why Nettech Created This Blog

At Nettech, we’ve encountered real-world IT challenges like this and tested solutions to ensure reliable results. Our tests showed that most users run into the 100 MB limit without clear documentation or error messages, leading to unnecessary frustration. This blog provides actionable advice based on extensive testing and firsthand experience.


FAQs

Q1: Why can’t I upload files larger than 100 MB on the Cloudflare free plan?

A1: The free plan imposes a 100 MB upload limit for HTTP connections through their proxy. This is a restriction of the free tier.

Q2: Will logs show the cause of this error?

A2: No. Neither your hosting control panel nor Cloudflare will log this error, making it harder to diagnose.

Q3: Can I permanently avoid the limit without upgrading?

A3: Yes, by logging in via your server’s IP address or temporarily disabling Cloudflare proxy mode during uploads.

Q4: How do I check PHP restrictions for file uploads?

A4: Log in to your control panel and check the PHP configuration under the settings. Look for upload_max_filesize and post_max_size values.

Q5: Does upgrading to a paid plan immediately resolve this issue?

A5: Yes. Paid plans have higher upload limits, with the Pro Plan supporting up to 200 MB.

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