Errors on your WordPress site can boring down your piece of work and create serious inconveniences for both you and your users. For case, the "Installation failed: could non create directory" message tin can prevent you from providing a primal feature or functionality.

Luckily, resolving this mistake is adequately uncomplicated. By tweaking just a few settings, you can easily get your WordPress plugin or WordPress theme up and running in no time.

In this postal service, nosotros'll discuss what causes this error and other issues related to it. So nosotros'll walk you through three methods for resolving the "Installation failed: could non create directory" message so that you can complete your installation or update.

Let's get started!

What Causes the "Installation Failed: Could Not Create Directory." Error in WordPress

There are three primary situations in which y'all might encounter the "Installation Failed: Could Non Create Directory." error in WordPress:

  1. When installing a theme or plugin via your WordPress dashboard
  2. During a standard theme or plugin update
  3. While attempting to upload files to the wp-content directory on your server

The root crusade of the problem is the same in each scenario. However, permit'southward take a look at each of these situations in turn.

Installing a New Theme or Plugin on Your Site

Your WordPress site is made up of two components: a database and various files that are stored on a server in 'directories.' When yous apply WordPress admin to add a theme or plugin to your site, it has to create a new directory in which to salvage its files.

However, if the plugin or theme yous're attempting to install does not have permission to write in your website's root directory, it won't be able to complete this task. That'due south when you'll see an error such as "Installation failed: could not create directory."

This error is your server's way of saying that you're not allowed to make changes to your site's files past adding the plugin or theme in question. In general, this is a problem that usually occurs on new WordPress sites.

It'southward important to note that there is a similar, less common cause for this error. If your server is running out of disk space to store your site'southward files, it may prove this aforementioned bulletin because it has no room for the new plugin or theme. Read this guide to cheque deejay usage in WordPress.

This may exist due to quondam fill-in files not being deleted, or it may happen because your hosting plan is also small for your site. In the latter instance, you'll want to expect into upgrading to another hosting package that provides more storage.

Updating an Existing Theme or Plugin

Sometimes, when attempting to upgrade a WordPress theme or plugin that'south already installed on your site, you may meet an error very like to the ane nosotros've described above. This i will typically read, "Update failed: could non create directory."

This trouble occurs for the same reasons equally the "Installation failed could non create directory." error. When you update a WordPress plugin or theme, WordPress needs to rewrite its files on your website'due south server. If your permissions settings are incorrect or there is non enough gratis space, the process will not be able to admission the correct files or upload new ones.

Since the cause of these two issues is the same, the solutions are identical as well. Any methods for resolving the "Installation failed: could non create directory" fault listed beneath should also work for a stalled update.

Uploading Files to the wp-content Directory

Server file permissions are a security feature that hosting providers put to prevent unauthorized parties from making changes to your site or stealing sensitive data.

However, they tin can sometimes lock yous out of your own files if they aren't prepare correctly.

This is why, if y'all attempt to get around the "Installation failed: could not create directory." error in your WordPress dashboard by uploading the plugin's or theme's files direct to the wp-content directory on your server, you'll likely still encounter the same trouble. The error occurs because of a problem with your server, non your WordPress installation.

This issue may also extend to your wp-content/uploads subdirectory, where all your media files are stored. Calculation images, videos, or similar content to your site by saving them to your server follows the same process equally installing a new plugin or theme.

If you don't have permission to write in your root directory, uploading content to wp-content/uploads will notwithstanding produce the error we've been discussing. To fix information technology, you'll need to conform your server's settings, as nosotros'll draw soon.

Diagnosing the "Installation Failed: Could Not Create Directory." Error in WordPress (2 Methods)

The good news virtually this error is that it's relatively easy to fix. Most of the time, correcting your permissions will clear everything correct up. Even so, earlier you first work on that solution, y'all may want to make certain that it can solve your problem.

Below, we've outlined 2 methods for determining whether your site is experiencing a permissions-related error.

1. Use the WordPress Site Health Tool

WordPress v.2 introduced the Site Health tool. It contains a wealth of valuable information regarding your WordPress site, such as functioning test results, security checks, and WordPress configuration information.

Yous tin access it by navigating to Tools > Site Health in your WordPress dashboard. To bank check your file permissions settings, you'll desire to click on the Info tab:

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site health
The WordPress Site Health tool

Then, scroll down to the last section, which should be labeled Filesystem Permissions:

filesystem permissions
The WordPress Site Health Info tab

Hither yous'll come across a list of crucial WordPress files, including the plugin and theme directories. Ideally, they volition all be listed as "Writable":

filesystems writable
The WordPress Site Health Filesystem Permissions check

If your permissions are not configured correctly, you'll run into "Non writable" listed next to the problematic folders. If this is the case, you'll know that y'all need to correct your file permissions.

2. Check Your Server'south Error Log

Another selection is to check your server's error log. This may exist a more efficient method, as it will brandish any errors that take occurred, not simply incorrect file permissions. You should be able to admission your logs via your hosting business relationship.

If you're a Kinsta customer, yous can log into your MyKinsta dashboard and click on Sites in the sidebar:

kinsta dashboard sites
MyKinsta dashboard

Select the site'southward name that is experiencing the "Installation failed: could not create directory" fault. Then, cull the Logs tab:

mykinsta error log
MyKinsta account Fault Log viewer

From the drop-down bill of fare, make sure that error.log is selected. Here, you should be able to see any contempo errors that have occurred on your server, including incorrect file permissions or insufficient storage, either of which may be causing the installation fault.

If y'all see a relevant error listed, you tin can either correct your file permissions or consider upgrading your hosting programme as needed.

How to Fix the "Installation Failed: Could Not Create Directory." Fault in WordPress

If your site's permissions settings are causing the "Installation failed: could not create directory fault," you can resolve information technology past resetting them. To exercise and then, you'll demand to connect to your server via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), using an FTP customer.

Any time y'all make changes to your site's files, information technology'due south wise to create a backup first, only in example something goes incorrect and you demand to restore your site. Then, collect your FTP credentials from your hosting business relationship.

Equally a Kinsta customer, you tin do this by accessing the Info tab for your site in the MyKinsta dashboard:

kinsta ftp info
Accessing the site FTP credentials in MyKinsta

So, open upward FileZilla (or another client) and enter your information. You'll be connected to your server, where you should encounter a folder chosen public_html. Double-click on information technology to view your WordPress files:

ftp public html
Accessing the public_html directory via FTP

If y'all don't come across all the files, here is a guide on how to prove hidden files in Filezilla. After that, select the folders labeled wp_content, wp_includes, and wp_admin. Right-click on them and choose File Permissions:

ftp file permissions
Selecting the file permissions selection via FTP

You should see a window that contains a scattering of settings:

ftp permissions window
Setting the right file permissions via FTP

Check that the options here are set up to the following values:

  • Owner Permissions: Read, Write, Execute.
  • Group Permissions: Read, Execute.
  • Public Permissions: Read, Execute.
  • Numeric value: 755.
  • Recurse into subdirectories.
  • Apply to directories merely.

Click on the OK push button to close the window. Now render to your site and attempt to install or update the plugin/theme again.

It's worth noting that some hosting providers, including those that use cPanel, have their own tools you can utilize without bothering with FTP/SFTP. You lot tin often notice this tool past logging in to your hosting account, navigating to the site experiencing the error, and looking for a File Manager.

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Summary

Your WordPress site'due south plugins and themes provide important functionality for yous and your users. Encountering an error when installing or updating one can throw a wrench in your plans and slow down your progress.

To determine if a file permissions result is causing a plugin or theme installation error on your site, yous can utilise the Site Wellness tool or check out your server's error log. After that, resetting your permissions using FTP/SFTP should simply take a few minutes.


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