How to Increase PHP Max Execution Time to Fix Update Issues

If you’re seeing errors like “cURL error 28: Operation timed out…” or plugin updates failing while using Elementor Addons like Wise Elementor Addons or Happy Addons Pro, chances are your site is hitting the PHP max execution time limit. This issue can prevent plugin updates, cause performance delays, or even block site operations.

In this post, we’ll explain what PHP execution time is, why it matters, and how to increase it to at least 3000 seconds—the recommended threshold for smooth performance with advanced Elementor Addons.

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🧠 What Is PHP Max Execution Time?

PHP max execution time is the maximum amount of time a PHP script is allowed to run on your server. By default, hosting providers often set this to 30 or 60 seconds to avoid overloading the server.

But plugins like Wise Elementor Addons Pro and other Elementor extensions need more time to perform certain operations, especially on complex or resource-heavy sites.

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⚠️ Why Update Issues Happen

After version WordPress 6.7, many users began experiencing update problems when using advanced page builders and addons. The root cause? The PHP script gets cut off before it finishes processing updates or API requests—especially when automatic updates are enabled on multiple sites.

Solution: Increase PHP max execution time to 3000 seconds.

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✅ How to Increase PHP Max Execution Time

Here are several methods you can use, depending on your hosting setup:

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🔧 Method 1: Modify .htaccess File (for Apache Servers)

1. Connect to your website via FTP or cPanel File Manager.
2. Locate the .htaccess file in your root directory.
3. Add the following line at the end of the file:

apacheCopyEditphp_value max_execution_time 3000

4. Save and re-upload the file.

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🛠 Method 2: Update php.ini File (If Available)

Some servers let you modify or create a php.ini file.

1. Go to your site root folder.
2. If no php.ini file exists, create one.
3. Add this line:

iniCopyEditmax_execution_time = 3000

4. Save and upload.

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📂 Method 3: Edit wp-config.php

If you don’t have access to .htaccess or php.ini, try this:

1. Open wp-config.php in your root folder.
2. Add this before the line that says “That’s all, stop editing!”:

phpCopyEditset_time_limit(3000);

3. Save and upload the file.

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💡 Method 4: Ask Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above options work, reach out to your hosting provider and request:

“Please increase the PHP max execution time to 3000 for better compatibility with Elementor Addons.”

Most providers will do this quickly upon request.

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🧪 Test If the Issue Is Resolved

After increasing the execution time:

• Try updating your plugins again.
• Check if the cURL error or update timeout disappears.
• Monitor your site’s performance and plugin stability.

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📝 Final Notes

If you’re managing multiple sites (like agencies do) and seeing update failures across all of them, increasing the PHP max execution time is a critical fix.

This simple adjustment can:

• Prevent plugin update failures
• Resolve cURL timeout errors
• Improve performance for Elementor and its addons
• Save hours of manual troubleshooting