Setting the PHP script memory limit in an .htaccess file

The memory_limit directive in PHP defines the maximum amount of memory a script can use. By default, this value is often set to 128 MB. On ruachost.com, you can increase or decrease this limit using a custom .htaccess file when you don’t have direct access to php.ini.

Why Change the Memory Limit?

• Prevents “Allowed memory size exhausted” errors.
• Supports applications that process large files, images, or complex database queries.
• Provides flexibility for resource‑intensive scripts.

Steps to Set the Memory Limit in .htaccess

Step 1: Access Your Hosting Account

• Log in to cPanel or use FTP/File Manager.
• Navigate to your site’s root directory (e.g., /public_html).

Step 2: Create or Edit .htaccess

1. If .htaccess already exists, open it for editing.
2. If not, create a new file named .htaccess.

Step 3: Add the Memory Limit Directive

Insert the following line:

php_value memory_limit 256M

• Replace 256M with the desired memory limit (e.g., 512M).
• Use M for megabytes and G for gigabytes (e.g., 1G).

Step 4: Save and Verify

1. Save the .htaccess file.

2. Create a test file info.php with:

   <?php phpinfo(); ?>

3. Load it in your browser and search for memory_limit.

4. Confirm the new value is active.

5. Delete the test file afterward for security.

Important Notes

• Not all hosting environments allow PHP directives in .htaccess. If unsupported, use php.ini or .user.ini.
• Incorrect syntax in .htaccess can cause 500 Internal Server Errors.
• Always back up your .htaccess file before making changes

Best Practices

• Increase memory gradually (e.g., 256M → 512M).
• Avoid setting unlimited memory (-1) unless absolutely necessary.
• Monitor application performance after changes.