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Moodle has a limit on the size of file you can load. This page explains why this is, offers alternatives and tells you how to change it.

Student Help

This warning occurs when you are trying to upload a file to Moodle that is larger then the limit set by your teacher. For example, trying to upload some text as an assignment, contribute something to a forum or participate in any other interactive activity.

The file limit is displayed before you start to upload the file and is highlighted in the image on the right. Limits can be set anything between 10Kb and 250Mb. For example the size limit for Turnitin submissions is 20 MB. If your file exceeds the limit you will not be able to upload until it is under the limit. You need to consider how it could be reduced. If you feel that the file limit is set to low for the requested activity then please contact your teaching staff.

Staff Help

This warning occurs when you are trying to upload a file to Moodle that is larger then the limit set in this module. For example when you are uploading a lecture powerpoint or document for a student to use. There are good reasons to consider the size of the files you upload. Larger files take longer to upload, take up more of the Moodle system and can be frustrating for students waiting whilst viewing them - particularly on tablets or mobile phones. Publicly available data (on mobile internet speeds in the area of University Park) suggests wait times of between 35 seconds and 2 mins for a photo heavy 25mb powerpoint file.

All video and audio files - which are often large - should be uploaded by using the "Media resource" NOT uploaded as a file. Uploading in this way - using MediaSpace - gives you up to 2 GB.

How to increase the upload file limit

Although it is preferable to reduce the size of the file you are uploading (and the table below offers some suggestions on how to do this) it is possible for staff to increase the limit.

• In your module, find the ADMINISTRATION block and click on Module administration > Edit settings
• The edit module settings page loads.
• Expand Files and uploads to reveal the Maximum upload size field.
• Choose a new value. This can be up to the maximum size allowed by the system (currently 250Mb). 

 UNNC and UNMC users

Staff at UNNC/UNMC should give additional consideration to file sizes when uploading to Moodle as the servers are located in the UK and the additional network considerations between UNUK and UNNC/UMNC can mean that files sometimes take a lot longer to transfer between campuses. An alternative method of making files available inside Moodle is recommended that stores the files on your campus. Please see here.

To provide a better experience for staff and students (in Moodle) the module file size limit has been set to 10Mb. Larger files are normally audio or video which are stored in MediaSpace: seeHow to add video and audio to Moodle
Please contact your local HelpDesk with any further queries.

Where files are larger then 10Mb staff are strongly encouraged to use local file storage (via Equella) to provide the best experience.