Why Is $_FILES Empty When Uploading Files To PHP?

PHP Configuration Issues

To fix an empty $_FILES array, check your PHP configuration. Open your php.ini file and look for these settings:

• file_uploads: Set to "On" to allow file uploads.
• post_max_size: Increase this value for larger file uploads.
• upload_max_filesize: Adjust to match your maximum file size needs.

Check your permissions for file uploads. On shared hosting, you may need to use .htaccess or .user.ini files to change these settings.

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

HTML Form Configuration

Set up your HTML form correctly for file uploads:

• Use enctype="multipart/form-data" in your
  tag.
• Set the method attribute to "POST".
• Add a name attribute to your file input field, like <input type="file" name="uploadedfile">.

Server and Directory Permissions

Check your server's file permissions:

• Give read and write permissions to your upload directory.
• Make sure the temporary directory (specified by upload_tmp_dir in PHP settings) is accessible.
• Check if the web server user owns the upload and temporary directories.

Code-related Issues

In your PHP code:

• Use file handling functions like move_uploaded_file().
• Avoid using $_GET instead of $_POST for file uploads.
• Check for code that might interfere with the file upload process.

Verifying PHP Settings

To check your PHP settings, use the phpinfo() function. Create a PHP file with this code:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Run it on your server to see your current PHP configuration.

Find the correct php.ini file path in the phpinfo() output. Make sure you edit the right file.

After making changes, check the phpinfo() output again to confirm they are applied. If settings don't update, restart your web server.

upload_max_filesize = 10M

Inspecting HTML Form

Check your HTML form:

• Close all form tags properly.
• Avoid nested forms.
• Check for overlapping tags like
  .

Verify your form attributes:

• Set enctype to "multipart/form-data".
• Use method="POST" for file uploads.
• Give each file input a unique name.

Testing with Small Files

Start by uploading small files, like a 1KB text file. This helps identify if the problem is related to file size.

If small files upload successfully, increase the file size gradually. This can help you find your server's file upload limit.

Try different file types (text, image, PDF) to see if the issue affects certain formats.

These steps can help you find the cause of your empty $_FILES array issue and solve it faster.