How to Fix the “Fail to Upload Cover” Issue in OJS

Open Journal Systems (OJS) and Open Monograph System (OMP) is a powerful platform used by academic journals worldwide for managing and publishing scholarly content. However, like any software, it’s not without its hiccups. One common issue users encounter is the “Fail to upload cover” error when trying to add a cover image to a journal article or issue. in some general OJS hosting, as the provider only covers the support for a limited platform, some problems may arise that will trouble the OJS or OMP user. Here, openjournaltheme.com or the OJT team will explain how to fix this issue.

Although this is a common issue, many users of OJS-based systems generally face this either by OJS migration to another host or as a result of OJS upgrade.
So it is recommended to use the OJS service that is expert and trusted globally.

If you’re facing this problem, don’t worry. This article outlines common causes and practical solutions to help you resolve the issue efficiently.

1. Check File Format and Size

For fixing ojs upload issue, OJS platform only supports specific file types for cover images. Make sure your file is:

• In JPG, PNG, or GIF format.
• Within the maximum file size limit set by the server or OJS settings (typically under 2MB).

Fix:

• Convert your image to JPG or PNG using an image editor, or you can use online editor like Canva .
• Compress large images using free tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim.

2. File Name Issues

For fixing OJS upload cover issuse, the other insight is about : File names with special characters, spaces, or long names can cause problems in some server environments. For example a file name that has long name :

My Cover Image (Final Version!) #1.jpg

The simple file name should be: cover_image.jpg

Fix:

• Rename your file to something simple, e.g., cover.jpg.
• Avoid spaces, symbols, or non-English characters.

3. Permissions on Server Folders

OJS Fixing for OJS upload cover issue that is common in OJS hosting is caused by : OJS stores uploaded files in specific directories. If these directories don’t have the right permissions, uploads will fail.

Fix:

• Check permissions of the /public/ or /files/ directory in your OJS installation.
• Set permissions to 755 or 775, and ensure the web server has write access.

Run this command (via SSH or cPanel’s terminal):

chmod -R 755 /path-to-your-ojs-installation/public/

4. PHP Configuration Limits

It is need a specific PHP configuration for your OJS hosting to make the OJS/OMP compatible with OJS platform. Your PHP environment might be restricting uploads due to configuration limits.

Fix:

Update the following values in your php.ini file:

upload_max_filesize = 10M
post_max_size = 12M

Then restart your web server. To restart your webserver you can use this command :

service apache2 restart

service nginx restart

5. Browser Cache or Session Timeout

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with OJS but with the browser.

Fix:

• Clear your browser cache.
• Log out and back into OJS.
• Try uploading in incognito mode or with another browser.

6. Server Error Logs

If none of the above work, check your web server logs. These often contain error messages that can help identify the problem.

Location:

• Apache: /var/log/apache2/error.log
• Nginx: /var/log/nginx/error.log

Look for lines that include errors related to file uploads, permissions, or PHP execution.

Wrap up

The “Fail to upload cover” issue in OJS is usually caused by a few predictable problems, such as file type, permissions, or server limits. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, most users can resolve the issue without needing advanced technical knowledge. For other technical guidelines for fixing the upload issue, you can follow this : How To Fix Upload Errors In PKP Software OJS OMP OPS

The issue is common and caused by an incompatible server or hosting environment, such as Hostinger or GoDaddy. It is recommended that you use specialized OJS hosting that is built for OJS/OMP, which will make it easier for OJS/OMP users to improve the usability of OJS.
In openjournaltheme.com or the OJT team hosting, this issue will be handled by our dedicated staff, so you as the editor of journal does not need any technical burden when handling an OJS.

If you need specialized hosting, you can use our managed OJS/OMP hosting service or support service. Our OJS hosting is built from scratch and 100% guarantees compatibility with OJS, most secure and helping you grow your OJS without any issues. Our OJS/OMP support service provides an expert OJS team that will support your OJS/OMP.

Muhammad Hendra

Project Manager

Hendra here, I love writing about OJS and share knowledge about OJS. My passion is about OJS, OMP platform and doing some research on creating innovated products for that platform to help publisher to improve their publication.