---
name: "CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE"
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_LARGE"
---

# CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE\_LARGE(3)

maximum file size allowed to download

## NAME

CURLOPT\_MAXFILESIZE\_LARGE - maximum file size allowed to download

## SYNOPSIS

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

## DESCRIPTION

Pass a curl\_off\_t 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 the size is known to exceed the limit before the transfer starts, libcurl aborts before starting the transfer. If the transfer instead exceeds the limit while it is in progress, libcurl aborts it at that point.

Since 8.20.0, this option also stops ongoing transfers that would reach this threshold due to automatic decompression using *[CURLOPT\_ACCEPT\_ENCODING(3)](/CURLOPT_ACCEPT_ENCODING/3.md)*.

## DEFAULT

0, meaning disabled.

## PROTOCOLS

This functionality affects ftp, http and mqtt

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    CURLcode result;
    curl_off_t ridiculous = (curl_off_t)1 << 48;
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com/");
    /* refuse to download if larger than ridiculous */
    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE, ridiculous);
    result = curl_easy_perform(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in curl 7.11.0

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