
Creating a ZIP without compression (store mode) is faster and uses less memory. In PHP, you can change:
$zip->addFile($file, $localName);
// Instead of:
$zip->addFile($file, $localName, ZippingMethod::STORE); // Not standard; use setCompressionName()
However, few plugins expose this option. You may need to modify the plugin’s core code.
If you are the server administrator or have root access, you can adjust the configuration to allow larger zips.
1. Increase Memory Limit (PHP)
If the file manager runs via PHP (common in cPanel), the script may be hitting the memory_limit.
2. Adjust Web Server Timeout Even if memory is sufficient, the script might be timing out while zipping large files. total size of requested files is too large for ziponthefly
3. Use the Command Line (SSH) If you have SSH access, you can bypass the web file manager entirely. This is faster and has virtually no size limits.
If you are a developer or advanced admin, find out what is actually causing the error.
Test with small, medium, and large batches to find the breaking point. If 300MB works but 350MB fails, your effective limit is ~300MB.
For power users, provide direct FTP credentials to a folder. They can use a desktop FTP client (FileZilla, Cyberduck) to download whole folders natively—no web ZIP required. Creating a ZIP without compression (store mode) is
If you need to download the files immediately without changing server settings, use these strategies:
1. Download in Batches (Chunking)
Instead of selecting the entire folder (e.g., public_html), select sub-folders or groups of files individually.
2. Exclude Large Media Files Often, the size limit is breached because of a few massive video files or high-resolution images.
3. Use an FTP/SFTP Client This is the most robust solution. Web-based file managers have limits; FTP clients (like FileZilla, WinSCP, or Cyberduck) generally do not. However, few plugins expose this option
If you’re on shared hosting, open a support ticket. Ask them to:
Some hosts (e.g., GoDaddy, Bluehost) may refuse; they often cap ZipOnTheFly at 100-250MB by design.
Allow the script more time to finish.