CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE(3) Introduction to Library Functions

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.

The file size is not always known prior to the download start, and
for such transfers this option has no effect - even if the file
transfer eventually ends up being larger than this given limit.

If you want a limit above 2GB, use CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE(3).

Since 8.4.0, this option also stops ongoing transfers if they reach
this threshold.

Since 8.20.0, this option also stops ongoing transfers that would
reach this threshold due to automatic decompression using
CURLOPT_ACCEPT_ENCODING(3).

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

RETURN VALUE


curl_easy_setopt(3) returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error
occurred, see libcurl-errors(3).

SEE ALSO


CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE(3), CURLOPT_MAX_RECV_SPEED_LARGE(3)

libcurl 2026-04-29 CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE(3)