CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE(3) Library Functions Manual CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE(3)
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 2026-06-09 CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE(3)
curl 8.20.0 - Generated Tue Jun 9 16:18:30 CDT 2026