Master File Uploads in Contact Form 7: A Practical Guide

Need to let users upload files through your WordPress forms? Contact Form 7’s file input field handles documents, images, and more securely. Here’s how to use it like a pro.

Adding a Basic File Upload Field

First, add this tag to your CF7 form:
[file your-file]

In the Mail tab, include [your-file] to attach submissions to notifications. Users will see a “Choose File” button to upload documents.

Advanced Customization & Examples

1. Limit File Size

Prevent large uploads with limit:mb:

[file your-file limit:2mb]

Restricts files to 2MB.

2. Allow Specific File Types

Accept only images or PDFs:

[file your-file filetypes:jpg|png|pdf]

3. Enable Multiple Uploads

Let users attach several files:

[file your-file multiple]

4. Customize Button Text

Improve UX with friendly labels:

[file your-file id:cv-upload "Upload Your CV"]

Example: Job Application Form

[text your-name]
[email your-email]
[file cv-upload filetypes:pdf|doc limit:5mb "Attach Resume (PDF/DOC)"]
[submit "Apply"]

Pro Tips

• Security: CF7 automatically sanitizes uploaded files.
• Storage: Files are stored temporarily in /wp-content/uploads/wpcf7_uploads/ (auto-deleted). Use plugins like Flamingo to save them permanently.
• Troubleshooting: If uploads fail, check server file size limits in PHP settings (upload_max_filesize, post_max_size).

Conclusion

Contact Form 7’s file upload field transforms forms into powerful tools—for resumes, portfolios, or support tickets. Start testing these features today!