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.
If you want a limit above 2GB, use CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE_LARGE(3).
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).
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) 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 2026-07-05 CURLOPT_MAXFILESIZE(3)
curl 8.21.0 - Generated Mon Jul 6 07:45:54 CDT 2026