---
name: "CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "curl"
version: "8.23.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE"
---

# CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE(3)

maximum file size allowed to download

## NAME

CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE - maximum file size allowed to download

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE, long size);
```

## DESCRIPTION

Pass a long as parameter. This specifies the maximum accepted *size* (in bytes) of a file to download. If the file requested is found larger than this value, the transfer is aborted and *CURLE\_FILESIZE\_EXCEEDED* is returned. Passing a zero *size* disables this, and passing a negative *size* yields a *CURLE\_BAD\_FUNCTION\_ARGUMENT*.

If you want a limit above 2GB, use *[CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE\_LARGE(3)](/CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE/3.md)*.

If the size is known to be too big before the transfer starts, libcurl aborts before starting the transfer. If it is instead found to be too big while the transfer is in progress, libcurl aborts the transfer once the received bytes exceed the limit.

Since 8.20.0, this option also aborts ongoing transfers once the decompressed bytes exceed this threshold due to automatic decompression using *[CURLOPT\_ACCEPT\_ENCODING(3)](/CURLOPT_ACCEPT_ENCODING/3.md)*.

## DEFAULT

0, meaning disabled.

## PROTOCOLS

This functionality affects all supported protocols

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    CURLcode result;
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com/");
    /* refuse to download if larger than 1000 bytes */
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE, 1000L);
    result = curl_easy_perform(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in curl 7.10.8

## HISTORY

Before curl 8.4.0, the limit was not applied to transfers in progress.

## RETURN VALUE

*[curl\_easy\_setopt(3)](/curl_easy_setopt/3.md)* returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE\_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred, see *[libcurl-errors(3)](/libcurl-errors/3.md)*.

## SEE ALSO

[**CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE\_LARGE**(3)](/CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE/3.md), [**CURLOPT\_MAX\_RECV\_SPEED\_LARGE**(3)](/CURLOPT_MAX_RECV_SPEED_LARGE/3.md)