As a last resort you can have your IT team contact your hosting provider. If your hosting provider restricts what they see as unsafe file types they can reverse this situation.

FAQ on How To Fix This Error

What causes the "file type not permitted" error?

This error appears when your CMS security settings or web application firewall blocks files it considers potentially harmful. WordPress, Joomla, and other platforms use file validation processes to prevent malicious uploads. Server configuration files like .htaccess and php.ini often contain these file screening policies.

How do I modify the allowed file types in WordPress?

Add this code to your functions.php file:

function add_custom_mime_types($mimes) {
    $mimes['pdf'] = 'application/pdf';
    $mimes['doc'] = 'application/msword';
    return $mimes;
}
add_filter('upload_mimes', 'add_custom_mime_types');

Replace with your needed file extensions.

Can security plugins cause this upload error?

Yes. Security plugins like Wordfence or Cloudflare may implement strict file upload blocking. Check your security plugin settings for media upload restrictions. Try temporarily disabling these plugins to isolate whether they're causing upload validation failed errors.

How do I edit the .htaccess file to fix upload issues?

Access your .htaccess through FTP client or file manager. Add these lines:

AddType application/pdf .pdf
AddType image/jpeg .jpg .jpeg
AddType application/zip .zip

Customize for your required file types. Server security measures often block uploads at this level.

What's the quickest workaround for this error?

Change the file extension temporarily to an allowed type (like .jpg), upload it, then rename it back using a file manager plugin. While this bypasses upload security, it's not recommended for long-term site hardening practices.

How do I modify PHP security filters?

Edit your php.ini configuration with these lines:

upload_max_filesize = 10M
post_max_size = 13M
file_uploads = On

Contact your hosting provider if you lack access to these PHP settings. File upload functionality often depends on these server-level configurations.

Why am I suddenly getting this error when it worked before?

Recent CMS updates, newly installed plugins, or hosting security policy changes can trigger these errors. Check if your WordPress or Joomla version was updated, as content verification failed messages often appear after security upgrades.

How do I fix this error for PDF files specifically?

PDFs commonly trigger this error due to MIME type verification issues. Add this to your theme's functions.php:

function allow_pdfs($mime_types){
    $mime_types['pdf'] = 'application/pdf';
    return $mime_types;
}
add_filter('upload_mimes', 'allow_pdfs', 1, 1);

This specifically addresses document upload errors for PDF files.

Can I fix this without coding knowledge?

Absolutely. Try these no-code approaches:

• Install a file manager plugin
• Use FTP alternative for uploading
• Contact hosting provider support
• Reset file permissions through cPanel
• Try different browsers (sometimes it's a cache issue)

How do I permanently fix this issue in Nginx servers?

Edit your Nginx configuration file to include:

client_max_body_size 10M;

Then add proper MIME types:

include /etc/nginx/mime.types;
default_type application/octet-stream;

Restart Nginx after changes. This addresses both upload filtering active and file extension rejected errors.

Conclusion

Learning how to fix "sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons" gives you more control over your website's content. By understanding the balance between site hardening and upload functionality, you've gained valuable troubleshooting skills for your content management system.

Remember these key takeaways:

• File extension rejected errors often stem from MIME type verification processes
• Admin upload permissions can be adjusted in your wp-config.php file
• Media library limitations exist to prevent upload vulnerability issues
• FTP alternatives provide workarounds when direct uploads fail

Whether you're managing Drupal, Shopify, or Elementor, these techniques help maintain proper website administration without constant content upload failures. Should problems persist, check your Nginx configuration or contact your hosting provider. With these approaches, you'll spend less time fighting error messages and more time creating content.

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