diff --git a/src/boot/after_store.js b/src/boot/after_store.js
index a8594a643c..24a8d3ac2f 100644
--- a/src/boot/after_store.js
+++ b/src/boot/after_store.js
@@ -21,11 +21,15 @@ const afterStoreSetup = ({ store, i18n }) => {
   window.fetch('/api/statusnet/config.json')
     .then((res) => res.json())
     .then((data) => {
-      const { name, closed: registrationClosed, textlimit, server, vapidPublicKey } = data.site
+      const { name, closed: registrationClosed, textlimit, uploadlimit, server, vapidPublicKey } = data.site
 
       store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'name', value: name })
       store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'registrationOpen', value: (registrationClosed === '0') })
       store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'textlimit', value: parseInt(textlimit) })
+      store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'uploadlimit', value: parseInt(uploadlimit.uploadlimit) })
+      store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'avatarlimit', value: parseInt(uploadlimit.avatarlimit) })
+      store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'backgroundlimit', value: parseInt(uploadlimit.backgroundlimit) })
+      store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'bannerlimit', value: parseInt(uploadlimit.bannerlimit) })
       store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'server', value: server })
 
       if (data.nsfwCensorImage) {
diff --git a/src/components/media_upload/media_upload.js b/src/components/media_upload/media_upload.js
index 66337c3f85..42d900d35f 100644
--- a/src/components/media_upload/media_upload.js
+++ b/src/components/media_upload/media_upload.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /* eslint-env browser */
 import statusPosterService from '../../services/status_poster/status_poster.service.js'
+import fileSizeFormatService from '../../services/file_size_format/file_size_format.js'
 
 const mediaUpload = {
   mounted () {
@@ -21,6 +22,12 @@ const mediaUpload = {
     uploadFile (file) {
       const self = this
       const store = this.$store
+      if (file.size > store.state.instance.uploadlimit) {
+        const filesize = fileSizeFormatService.fileSizeFormat(file.size)
+        const allowedsize = fileSizeFormatService.fileSizeFormat(store.state.instance.uploadlimit)
+        self.$emit('upload-failed', 'file_too_big', {filesize: filesize.num, filesizeunit: filesize.unit, allowedsize: allowedsize.num, allowedsizeunit: allowedsize.unit})
+        return
+      }
       const formData = new FormData()
       formData.append('media', file)
 
@@ -32,7 +39,7 @@ const mediaUpload = {
           self.$emit('uploaded', fileData)
           self.uploading = false
         }, (error) => { // eslint-disable-line handle-callback-err
-          self.$emit('upload-failed')
+          self.$emit('upload-failed', 'default')
           self.uploading = false
         })
     },
diff --git a/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js b/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js
index f9252f73b8..0ce2aff0d1 100644
--- a/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js
+++ b/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.js
@@ -262,6 +262,11 @@ const PostStatusForm = {
       let index = this.newStatus.files.indexOf(fileInfo)
       this.newStatus.files.splice(index, 1)
     },
+    uploadFailed (errString, templateArgs) {
+      templateArgs = templateArgs || {}
+      this.error = this.$t('upload.error.base') + ' ' + this.$t('upload.error.' + errString, templateArgs)
+      this.enableSubmit()
+    },
     disableSubmit () {
       this.submitDisabled = true
     },
diff --git a/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.vue b/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.vue
index fcf5c873c6..4776c8190c 100644
--- a/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.vue
+++ b/src/components/post_status_form/post_status_form.vue
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
         </div>
       </div>
       <div class='form-bottom'>
-        <media-upload @uploading="disableSubmit" @uploaded="addMediaFile" @upload-failed="enableSubmit" :drop-files="dropFiles"></media-upload>
+        <media-upload @uploading="disableSubmit" @uploaded="addMediaFile" @upload-failed="uploadFailed" :drop-files="dropFiles"></media-upload>
 
         <p v-if="isOverLengthLimit" class="error">{{ charactersLeft }}</p>
         <p class="faint" v-else-if="hasStatusLengthLimit">{{ charactersLeft }}</p>
diff --git a/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.js b/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.js
index 422a057eb3..ca7bf319a0 100644
--- a/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.js
+++ b/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import TabSwitcher from '../tab_switcher/tab_switcher.jsx'
 import StyleSwitcher from '../style_switcher/style_switcher.vue'
+import fileSizeFormatService from '../../services/file_size_format/file_size_format.js'
 
 const UserSettings = {
   data () {
@@ -14,8 +15,16 @@ const UserSettings = {
       followImportError: false,
       followsImported: false,
       enableFollowsExport: true,
-      uploading: [ false, false, false, false ],
-      previews: [ null, null, null ],
+      avatarUploading: false,
+      bannerUploading: false,
+      backgroundUploading: false,
+      followListUploading: false,
+      avatarPreview: null,
+      bannerPreview: null,
+      backgroundPreview: null,
+      avatarUploadError: null,
+      bannerUploadError: null,
+      backgroundUploadError: null,
       deletingAccount: false,
       deleteAccountConfirmPasswordInput: '',
       deleteAccountError: false,
@@ -84,19 +93,24 @@ const UserSettings = {
     uploadFile (slot, e) {
       const file = e.target.files[0]
       if (!file) { return }
+      if (file.size > this.$store.state.instance[slot + 'limit']) {
+        const filesize = fileSizeFormatService.fileSizeFormat(file.size)
+        const allowedsize = fileSizeFormatService.fileSizeFormat(this.$store.state.instance[slot + 'limit'])
+        this[slot + 'UploadError'] = this.$t('upload.error.base') + ' ' + this.$t('upload.error.file_too_big', {filesize: filesize.num, filesizeunit: filesize.unit, allowedsize: allowedsize.num, allowedsizeunit: allowedsize.unit})
+        return
+      }
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
       const reader = new FileReader()
       reader.onload = ({target}) => {
         const img = target.result
-        this.previews[slot] = img
-        this.$forceUpdate() // just changing the array with the index doesn't update the view
+        this[slot + 'Preview'] = img
       }
       reader.readAsDataURL(file)
     },
     submitAvatar () {
-      if (!this.previews[0]) { return }
+      if (!this.avatarPreview) { return }
 
-      let img = this.previews[0]
+      let img = this.avatarPreview
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
       let imginfo = new Image()
       let cropX, cropY, cropW, cropH
@@ -112,20 +126,25 @@ const UserSettings = {
         cropX = Math.floor((imginfo.width - imginfo.height) / 2)
         cropW = imginfo.height
       }
-      this.uploading[0] = true
+      this.avatarUploading = true
       this.$store.state.api.backendInteractor.updateAvatar({params: {img, cropX, cropY, cropW, cropH}}).then((user) => {
         if (!user.error) {
           this.$store.commit('addNewUsers', [user])
           this.$store.commit('setCurrentUser', user)
-          this.previews[0] = null
+          this.avatarPreview = null
+        } else {
+          this.avatarUploadError = this.$t('upload.error.base') + user.error
         }
-        this.uploading[0] = false
+        this.avatarUploading = false
       })
     },
+    clearUploadError (slot) {
+      this[slot + 'UploadError'] = null
+    },
     submitBanner () {
-      if (!this.previews[1]) { return }
+      if (!this.bannerPreview) { return }
 
-      let banner = this.previews[1]
+      let banner = this.bannerPreview
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
       let imginfo = new Image()
       /* eslint-disable camelcase */
@@ -135,22 +154,24 @@ const UserSettings = {
       height = imginfo.height
       offset_top = 0
       offset_left = 0
-      this.uploading[1] = true
+      this.bannerUploading = true
       this.$store.state.api.backendInteractor.updateBanner({params: {banner, offset_top, offset_left, width, height}}).then((data) => {
         if (!data.error) {
           let clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this.$store.state.users.currentUser))
           clone.cover_photo = data.url
           this.$store.commit('addNewUsers', [clone])
           this.$store.commit('setCurrentUser', clone)
-          this.previews[1] = null
+          this.bannerPreview = null
+        } else {
+          this.bannerUploadError = this.$t('upload.error.base') + data.error
         }
-        this.uploading[1] = false
+        this.bannerUploading = false
       })
       /* eslint-enable camelcase */
     },
     submitBg () {
-      if (!this.previews[2]) { return }
-      let img = this.previews[2]
+      if (!this.backgroundPreview) { return }
+      let img = this.backgroundPreview
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
       let imginfo = new Image()
       let cropX, cropY, cropW, cropH
@@ -159,20 +180,22 @@ const UserSettings = {
       cropY = 0
       cropW = imginfo.width
       cropH = imginfo.width
-      this.uploading[2] = true
+      this.backgroundUploading = true
       this.$store.state.api.backendInteractor.updateBg({params: {img, cropX, cropY, cropW, cropH}}).then((data) => {
         if (!data.error) {
           let clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this.$store.state.users.currentUser))
           clone.background_image = data.url
           this.$store.commit('addNewUsers', [clone])
           this.$store.commit('setCurrentUser', clone)
-          this.previews[2] = null
+          this.backgroundPreview = null
+        } else {
+          this.backgroundUploadError = this.$t('upload.error.base') + data.error
         }
-        this.uploading[2] = false
+        this.backgroundUploading = false
       })
     },
     importFollows () {
-      this.uploading[3] = true
+      this.followListUploading = true
       const followList = this.followList
       this.$store.state.api.backendInteractor.followImport({params: followList})
         .then((status) => {
@@ -181,7 +204,7 @@ const UserSettings = {
           } else {
             this.followImportError = true
           }
-          this.uploading[3] = false
+          this.followListUploading = false
         })
     },
     /* This function takes an Array of Users
diff --git a/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.vue b/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.vue
index 1162944007..67b65b5744 100644
--- a/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.vue
+++ b/src/components/user_settings/user_settings.vue
@@ -40,37 +40,49 @@
             <p>{{$t('settings.current_avatar')}}</p>
             <img :src="user.profile_image_url_original" class="old-avatar"></img>
             <p>{{$t('settings.set_new_avatar')}}</p>
-            <img class="new-avatar" v-bind:src="previews[0]" v-if="previews[0]">
+            <img class="new-avatar" v-bind:src="avatarPreview" v-if="avatarPreview">
             </img>
             <div>
-              <input type="file" @change="uploadFile(0, $event)" ></input>
+              <input type="file" @change="uploadFile('avatar', $event)" ></input>
+            </div>
+            <i class="icon-spin4 animate-spin" v-if="avatarUploading"></i>
+            <button class="btn btn-default" v-else-if="avatarPreview" @click="submitAvatar">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
+            <div class='alert error' v-if="avatarUploadError">
+              Error: {{ avatarUploadError }}
+              <i class="icon-cancel" @click="clearUploadError('avatar')"></i>
             </div>
-            <i class="icon-spin4 animate-spin" v-if="uploading[0]"></i>
-            <button class="btn btn-default" v-else-if="previews[0]" @click="submitAvatar">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
           </div>
           <div class="setting-item">
             <h2>{{$t('settings.profile_banner')}}</h2>
             <p>{{$t('settings.current_profile_banner')}}</p>
             <img :src="user.cover_photo" class="banner"></img>
             <p>{{$t('settings.set_new_profile_banner')}}</p>
-            <img class="banner" v-bind:src="previews[1]" v-if="previews[1]">
+            <img class="banner" v-bind:src="bannerPreview" v-if="bannerPreview">
             </img>
             <div>
-              <input type="file" @change="uploadFile(1, $event)" ></input>
+              <input type="file" @change="uploadFile('banner', $event)" ></input>
+            </div>
+            <i class=" icon-spin4 animate-spin uploading" v-if="bannerUploading"></i>
+            <button class="btn btn-default" v-else-if="bannerPreview" @click="submitBanner">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
+            <div class='alert error' v-if="bannerUploadError">
+              Error: {{ bannerUploadError }}
+              <i class="icon-cancel" @click="clearUploadError('banner')"></i>
             </div>
-            <i class=" icon-spin4 animate-spin uploading" v-if="uploading[1]"></i>
-            <button class="btn btn-default" v-else-if="previews[1]" @click="submitBanner">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
           </div>
           <div class="setting-item">
             <h2>{{$t('settings.profile_background')}}</h2>
             <p>{{$t('settings.set_new_profile_background')}}</p>
-            <img class="bg" v-bind:src="previews[2]" v-if="previews[2]">
+            <img class="bg" v-bind:src="backgroundPreview" v-if="backgroundPreview">
             </img>
             <div>
-              <input type="file" @change="uploadFile(2, $event)" ></input>
+              <input type="file" @change="uploadFile('background', $event)" ></input>
+            </div>
+            <i class=" icon-spin4 animate-spin uploading" v-if="backgroundUploading"></i>
+            <button class="btn btn-default" v-else-if="backgroundPreview" @click="submitBg">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
+            <div class='alert error' v-if="backgroundUploadError">
+              Error: {{ backgroundUploadError }}
+              <i class="icon-cancel" @click="clearUploadError('background')"></i>
             </div>
-            <i class=" icon-spin4 animate-spin uploading" v-if="uploading[2]"></i>
-            <button class="btn btn-default" v-else-if="previews[2]" @click="submitBg">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
           </div>
         </div>
 
@@ -117,7 +129,7 @@
             <form v-model="followImportForm">
               <input type="file" ref="followlist" v-on:change="followListChange"></input>
             </form>
-            <i class=" icon-spin4 animate-spin uploading" v-if="uploading[3]"></i>
+            <i class=" icon-spin4 animate-spin uploading" v-if="followListUploading"></i>
             <button class="btn btn-default" v-else @click="importFollows">{{$t('general.submit')}}</button>
             <div v-if="followsImported">
               <i class="icon-cross" @click="dismissImported"></i>
diff --git a/src/i18n/en.json b/src/i18n/en.json
index 1c43794ae8..1ce5379631 100644
--- a/src/i18n/en.json
+++ b/src/i18n/en.json
@@ -344,5 +344,19 @@
     "reply": "Reply",
     "favorite": "Favorite",
     "user_settings": "User Settings"
+  },
+  "upload":{
+    "error": {
+    "base": "Upload failed.",
+    "file_too_big": "File too big [{filesize}{filesizeunit} / {allowedsize}{allowedsizeunit}]",
+    "default": "Try again later"
+    },
+    "file_size_units": {
+      "B": "B",
+      "KiB": "KiB",
+      "MiB": "MiB",
+      "GiB": "GiB",
+      "TiB": "TiB"
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.js b/src/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..add56ee03e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+const fileSizeFormat = (num) => {
+  var exponent
+  var unit
+  var units = ['B', 'KiB', 'MiB', 'GiB', 'TiB']
+  if (num < 1) {
+    return num + ' ' + units[0]
+  }
+
+  exponent = Math.min(Math.floor(Math.log(num) / Math.log(1024)), units.length - 1)
+  num = (num / Math.pow(1024, exponent)).toFixed(2) * 1
+  unit = units[exponent]
+  return {num: num, unit: unit}
+}
+const fileSizeFormatService = {
+  fileSizeFormat
+}
+export default fileSizeFormatService
diff --git a/test/unit/specs/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.spec.js b/test/unit/specs/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0a5a82b7fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/specs/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+ import fileSizeFormatService from '../../../../../src/services/file_size_format/file_size_format.js'
+ describe('fileSizeFormat', () => {
+   it('Formats file size', () => {
+     const values = [1, 1024, 1048576, 1073741824, 1099511627776]
+     const expected = [
+       {
+         num: 1,
+         unit: 'B'
+       },
+       {
+         num: 1,
+         unit: 'KiB'
+       },
+       {
+         num: 1,
+         unit: 'MiB'
+       },
+       {
+         num: 1,
+         unit: 'GiB'
+       },
+       {
+         num: 1,
+         unit: 'TiB'
+       }
+     ]
+
+     var res = []
+     for (var value in values) {
+       res.push(fileSizeFormatService.fileSizeFormat(values[value]))
+     }
+     expect(res).to.eql(expected)
+   })
+ })