PHP Max Input Vars: 2000

What does it say at Admin page > WooCommerce > System Status > PHP Max input vars?

A further check is to create a file containing this, and put its url in your browser to run it:

<?php
phpinfo();

What does it say in there for max input vars?

Disable the above file after use as it is a security risk.

in System Status it says: 2000

in phpinfo file that I opened in browser it says: 6000

To add, it is both 6000 for Local and Master Value (there are 2 columns)

PHP Version 5.3.29

So max_input_vars is being overwritten by something before WordPress picks it up, and I think you’ll have to hunt round your file system to find what might be doing that. Look for any other php.ini files that may be taking precedence. Depending on your system it’s possible to override php.ini parameters in the Apache configuration files. Their location may vary, but check anything under /etc/apache2, /etc/apache2/conf.d, /etc/apache2/sites-enabled. Or ask your host’s tech to help out.

You could also try adding
php_value max_input_vars 6000
to .htaccess in the WordPress root folder, though I’m not sure if that will work.

I’ve not seen any science behind the correct value for max_input_vars, but 2000 doesn’t sound enough for 200+ variations.

Well, I couldn’t find anything that is overwriting the max input vars, I added:

</IfModule>
<IfModule mod_php5.c>

php_value max_input_vars 6000

</IfModule>

to htaccess file, but that doesn’t help woocommerce.
I contacted host, they said server is not based on suhosin and php_value max_input_vars are indeed 6000 if we go to the *.php file with the code to test it.
They also restarted Apache.

I also noticed that I can’t increase memory through php.ini, but I was able to increase memory through wp-config file, is there a code to do the same with max input vars in wp-config file?

No, my understanding is that you cannot use ini_set for max_input_vars because this setting is one that cannot be set at runtime.

There must be a configuration file somewhere that’s changing or setting the value to 2000. I don’t think it would change on its own ?? Did you check for hidden files, maybe a .htaccess somewhere. Your host techs seem friendly, maybe they would take another look.

My guess is if `<?php
phpinfo();` is showing a correct value and wordpress is not showing a correct value then it is one of the config files for wordpress that does that?
There is .htaccess in all folders, checked them, but nothing that looks like input_vars

Here is what my hosting says:
Upon further checks I noticed that the function that displays the variable is this one:

<td><?php _e( 'PHP Max Input Vars', 'woocommerce' ); ?>:</td>
<td><?php echo ini_get('max_input_vars'); ?></td>

However I unsure where woocommerce gets this value from. I do not see it defined neither in the database nor in a file on the current server. What I would advise you is to contact woocommerce support team and ask them to check the case for you.

ini_get is a standard php function, not a WooCommerce or WordPress one.
https://php.net/manual/en/function.ini-get.php

I’m sorry, I have no more suggestions. Hopefully someone else can come in on this thread.

Hey everyone!

I was having this same issue. My hosting company couldn’t figure it out so I did extensive trial and error..

Turns out that it’s a simple fix.

1. Connect to your site via FTP or File Manager
2. Navigate to wp-admin folder
3. Create a file inside wp-admin folder called php.ini
4. Add in this line: max_input_vars = 6000
5. Save and voila!

Hi trumark,

Your steps solved my issue.

Thanks a lot!

Thanks a lot “Trumark”

Thank you thank you thank you….