You upload a file… and nothing happens. Or worse, WordPress throws a vague error and refuses to cooperate. If you’ve been there, you know how frustrating it feels, especially when you haven’t changed anything recently.
This kind of issue often involves one simple thing: incorrect file and folder permissions. We’ve seen this cause image upload failures, plugin errors, and even blocked features on thousands of WordPress sites.
Permissions are how WordPress decides who can access, edit, or run files on your server. When those settings are incorrect, things start breaking in the background.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to fix file and folder permissions easily, with a beginner-friendly plugin or manually using FTP or cPanel.
How Do File and Folder Permissions Work in WordPress?
File and folder permissions tell WordPress who’s allowed to read, edit, or run the files on your site. These settings are handled by your web hosting server.
Most WordPress hosts use server software like Apache, Nginx, or LiteSpeed. All of them rely on the same basic permission system to serve your site’s files to visitors.
That’s why it’s important these permissions are set correctly. WordPress needs them to create folders, upload media, run scripts, and manage updates.
We’ve seen incorrect permissions block image uploads, plugin installs, and even basic site functions. They can also cause security issues by exposing sensitive files.
Sometimes WordPress shows an error when this happens, like “Unable to create directory.” But other times, it just fails silently, making the issue harder to catch.
What Are the Correct File and Folder Permissions in WordPress?
WordPress needs the right file and folder permissions to create content, upload files, and manage your site behind the scenes. If these settings are too strict or too loose, things can break, or worse, expose your site to risks.
Here are the recommended permission settings that work for most WordPress websites:
- 755 for all folders and sub-folders. This gives you full control to read, write, and open folders while keeping things secure for everyone else.
- 644 for all files. This lets you read and edit your files while others can only read them, which is ideal for most WordPress setups.
If you’ve already set these permissions and things still aren’t working, there may be a file ownership issue on your server.
In that case, your hosting provider can help reset the ownership so WordPress can access the files correctly.
Now let’s look at how to change these permissions safely. You can use a free plugin or fix them manually using FTP or cPanel, whichever method feels easier for you.
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Method 1: Fix WordPress File Permissions With a Free Plugin
If you’re not comfortable using FTP, don’t worry. There’s an easier way to fix file and folder permissions using a plugin, no technical steps needed.
To get started, you’ll need to install the All-in-One Security plugin. It has a built-in feature that can check your permission settings and fix them with just a few clicks.
We’ll be using the free version for this tutorial. But if you already have the paid version, that works too. You can also read our full All-in-One Security plugin review for more details.
If you need help installing the plugin, follow our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Once the plugin is activated, go to WP Security » File Security and switch to the ‘File permissions’ tab.
The plugin will automatically scan your WordPress core files and folders. If it detects incorrect permissions, it will show them with a warning.
In the ‘Recommended action’ column, you’ll see a button labeled ‘Set recommended permissions’ next to each issue.
Just click the button, and the plugin will fix the permissions for that file or folder automatically.
Once everything is fixed, the message will change to ‘No action required’ and you’re good to go.
Method 2: Fix WordPress Permissions for Files and Folders Manually
If you’re comfortable with basic file tools, you can fix WordPress permissions manually using an FTP client like FileZilla.
Don’t want to use FTP? Many hosting providers also offer a File Manager tool inside cPanel. It works almost the same and lets you follow these steps right from your browser.
Once connected, go to the root folder of your WordPress site. You’ll see folders like wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes.
Select all of the folders, then right-click and choose ‘File permissions…’
This will open a dialog box where you can set folder permissions.
In the numeric field, enter ‘755.’ Then check the box for ‘Recurse into subdirectories’ and select ‘Apply to directories only.’
Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes. Your FTP client will update the permissions for all folders and subfolders. Just give it a few seconds to complete.
Next, select all the files and folders again, right-click, and choose ‘File permissions…’ one more time.
This time, enter ‘644’ in the numeric field. Check the box for ‘Recurse into subdirectories’ and choose ‘Apply to files only.’
Click ‘OK’ and your FTP client will start updating permissions for all your WordPress files.
If you still see errors after doing this, it’s possible your hosting provider needs to reset file ownership on the server. Reach out to their support team and they should be able to help.
For extra help, check out our guide on how to properly ask for WordPress support.
You can also read our beginner’s guide to WordPress file and directory structure if you want to better understand how everything fits together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions beginners ask about file and folder permissions in WordPress:
What do 755 and 644 actually mean?
These numbers represent file permission levels. 755 means folders can be read, written to, and opened by the owner, but only read and opened by others. 644 means files can be read and edited by the owner, and only read by others.
What happens if I use the wrong permissions?
If permissions are too strict, WordPress may not be able to upload images, update plugins, or create folders. If they’re too loose, it could create security risks where unauthorized users can modify or access sensitive files.
Can I fix permissions without using FTP?
Yes! You can use the File Manager tool in your hosting control panel (like cPanel), or install a plugin like All-in-One Security to fix permissions with just a few clicks.
Do I need to reset permissions after restoring a backup?
Sometimes, yes. If your backup tool doesn’t preserve permissions correctly, files and folders might have the wrong settings. It’s a good idea to double-check after restoring your site.
What if fixing permissions doesn’t solve the issue?
If you’ve applied the correct settings and things still don’t work, it may be a file ownership issue on the server. In that case, your hosting provider can help fix it from their side.
Learn More Ways to Solve WordPress Errors
Experiencing other types of errors on your WordPress website? Check out these guides to fix the problem and keep your site running smoothly:
- How to Fix 503 Service Unavailable Error in WordPress
- How to Fix “Missing a Temporary Folder” Error in WordPress
- How to Fix Destination Folder Already Exists Error in WordPress
- How to Fix Pluggable.php File Errors in WordPress
- How to Fix “Sorry, This File Type Is Not Permitted for Security Reasons” Error in WordPress
- How to Fix “Googlebot cannot access CSS and JS files” Error in WordPress
- How to Fix “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error in WordPress
- How to Fix the “WordPress Database Error Disk Full” Error
- How to Fix the HTTP Image Upload Error in WordPress (Easy)
We hope this article helped you fix the file and folder permissions error in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on how to fix common WordPress errors and check out our top picks for the best WordPress plugins to grow your site.
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Unarine Leo Netshifhefhe
I searched around for other articles and I found this other article which mentioned something about using chmod, it qoutes the following “If you are looking to change the permission for the wp-config.php file, you can use the following command for the suggested change as cited earlier –
chmod 600 wp-config.php”, so I would like to know if this is advisable and where can I find the command line?
WPBeginner Support
That is mainly a different way to do what we cover in the article and is not always a beginner friendly method.
Admin
Jiří Vaněk
Chmod is mainly used as a command directly on a Linux server. You connect there using SSH and use the chmod command to change the permissions on the file. If you have shared hosting, you don’t always have access to data using SSH. A better choice for shared web hosting is an FTP client, in which you can also set file rights, but more easily and securely.
Unarine Leo Netshifhefhe
I have a problem with my file manager there’s a folder which isnt either 644 nor 755, it is 600 and whenever I try to change it, I get an error alert saying that permission operation failed, how can i solve that?
WPBeginner Support
You would want to reach out to your hosting provider and they should be able to assist you with the permissions issue.
Admin
Boris
Hi, great article. Just to confirm, I understand step 1 ” you must select all folders in the root directory” and then its the next step that I’m no sure about: “Next, you need to select all files and folders in the root folder of your WordPress site…” So that would be the folder: “Public_Html? Because that’s where the folders I see in your screenshot reside. And your not selecting all the folders again under the root directory as in step 1 right?
Thanks and best regards
WPBeginner Support
It depends on your host but in the folders selected you would want to see wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes to make sure you are in the correct location.
Admin
MBarbz
This actually worked with the step one (Permissions and 777). For some reason i wasn’t able to delete two folders from the “Upload”-Folder and then it worked. For some reason i had to re-start Filezilla because it was getting frozen but it worked out. Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was able to help!
Admin
Awais
Hi,
Thank you so much for this guide, it helped me to fix my issue. awesome!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Shahid
Thank you …. I set the folder permission to 755 and error was gone
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Tracy
Is there a reason why it is recommended to use an FTP client to manage user permission instead of managing them in the C-panel?
WPBeginner Support
Not all hosting providers offer cpanel access
Admin
Tracy
Thank you very much. This tutorial was extremely helpful.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful!
Stegemüller
I was struggling for many hours and could not understand what had happend. I found this guide and followed every step. Now both my main domain and subdomain are working again. Thank you VERY much.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
John
Thanks very much. I messed up permissions and your instructions fixed up everything.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was able to help
Admin
Max
Could you tell me what FTP program your using, so the instructions are easier to follow. as most programs don’t use the same terminology it seems.
WPBeginner Support
The specific one used should be Filezilla
Admin
Adam
I have followed the article and still getting the error please help
WPBeginner Support
If you are still receiving the error, you would want to reach out to your hosting provider and they should be able to assist.
Admin
Nicole
I’ve been searching like crazy and still can’t find my answer. Any idea what’s going on? When I follow the directions to right click and look for “File Permissions”, I don’t have that option. So I’m stuck and still can’t upload images anymore
Any advice would be much appreciated.
WPBeginner Support
If you can’t see the folder permissions, we would recommend reaching out to your hosting provider and they should be able to assist.
Admin
Andy
Thanks so much! Worked great.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could help you
Admin
Jun
Hello, I followed this article, but I can’t connect to my website after changing all permissions.
Do I have to wait?
Or something wrong happened?
it would be great if anyone who know about this help me.
WPBeginner Support
It would depend on if you are seeing an error message on your site, for a starting point we would recommend reaching out to your hosting provider to see if they find any errors.
Admin
Bobbi
Does anyone have any idea why, every time wordpress automatically updates, I have to go back in and reset file permissions? This page is really useful for fixing this issue, but I just want it to stop!
WPBeginner Support
You may want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure there isn’t a setting that could be causing that from their end.
Admin
Harvey
Thank you! This article just saved my web page!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide was helpful
Admin
marni
How do you handle the request for FTP credentials when you’re learning WordPress on a local host? I read this article but the sharing and permissions menu on a mac does not show a numeric value field.
WPBeginner Support
It would depend on the specific issue you’re running into but rather than needing FTP for a local installation, you would want to navigate to where the files are on your computer.
Admin
MikeMoy
For files you state to give permissions 644 for owner,group,others. Why do you give file read permissions (4) to others. Is there some reason others require file read permissions, why are all files not set to 640 ?
WPBeginner Support
Then users would run into an issue trying to view your content.
Admin
Ali Jey
Thanks for the tutorial. I could fix this problem for files already on the website, but everytime new files are uploaded they have the same problem again!
WPBeginner Support
If this issue is constant, we would recommend reaching out to your hosting provider to take a look at possible causes.
Admin
Trish
having this issue on a locally hosted site that I’m using for test purposes only. So I don’t have FTP access to the files and changing their permissions from Windows Explorer is not working. Any other ideas?
The main WP directory and the Themes directory are both unwritable according to the WP System Tools.
WPBeginner Support
You would want to check with the localhost tool you are using for your site as which one you are using would determine the options you have available and the possible issues.
Admin
Krisjanis Nimanis
Hello, did You manage to fix your error? And what localhost tool are you using?
Md Rasel Rahman Ricky
Thank you sir….
This Tutorial is working….
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Saqib Naqash
Update php vision to latest
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing another recommendation people can try
Admin
kyrien
i accidentally changed the permission on my update file to xxx and now when i try to change it back to 755 it won’t save. Any help?
WPBeginner Support
If you’re unable to update the file permissions, you would want to reach out to your hosting provider they should be able to assist
Admin
dominique
I’ve made your solution with the permissions 755 and 644, the website works a few seconds and than it breaks agin. And i have to do the permissions again. can you help me?
WPBeginner Support
If the permissions are reverting then you would want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure that there isn’t a setting on their end that would modify the permissions as well.
Admin
anami
Installation failed: Could not create directory.
WPBeginner Support
If the method in this article does not remove that error, you would want to reach out to your hosting provider.
Admin
Suzana
Hi, I should change file permission:
/ 755 750 WARNING
Can somebody tell me, where to find this “/” in C panel? To be honest, I don’t know, what this sign / means. Thank you, have a great day! Suzana
WPBeginner Support
If you’re using the file manager on your host’s cpanel then your site’s files are normally under public_html as that is where most FTPs connect to your host.
Admin
UDAY
how to solve the error Could not create directory in wordpress uploading thems
Dan
Thanks for this article! I thought I had completely fudged my site. None of my uploaded media or even CSS styling (I have no idea why that was effected) was displaying properly.
I had tweaked my permissions earlier but must have done it incorrectly. Your fix was the solution to my problem!
Many thanks
Erik
Thank you for this insightful article – I will keep it as a ressource for cases of curiousity (and panic, of course :D).
What I am struggling with are “wp GET”-lookups with result 404 when playing around with cacheing.
My wordpress installation is in a subfolder named wp, not in the root folder.
Which rights would I have to give this specific folder?
Thanks in advance for any help.
imran
Hi there, Im having issues in links of FTP and Wordpress..first i make a basic html and upload thrugh FTP after sometime i convert that website in using wordpress..now the issue is that the links of those html files and folders which i uploaded in FTP is now not working.just new links are working.The Error is ” No Page Found”
is there any tool, plugin or way to make alive those FTP Html links??please help me in this issue
Osuji Macdonald
my system can not read Wordpress properly. the files are not displaying very well. it just showing white icons of the files like a white sheet paper.
Odhran
Hi
I have wordpress installed on a local server and I’m getting ‘no data could be retrieved from the servers’ when I try to access the slider revolution library.
Is this because of the file permissions error described here? I’ve set all of the user permissions to ‘full control’ in my index.php file to no avail. I don’t seem to have the option to change to the numeric permissions you describe above. Really stuck on this one so any help would be appreciated.
thanks & regards
Odhran
Andy
I changed 755 to all folder and 644 to all file. But still cannot upload images to Media and cannot install new plugins.
PS: I upload whole wp-content folder from another hosting to my new hosting and extract it.
Please give me some advices.
Thank you.
Cody Cortez
This is because you can’t just copy item from a server to another without tweaking the Database. The database must know that the ones you just copied ‘exist’
Taran jeet
Try to Change Max Upload Size and File Size. This will Fix Your Issue. As It Works For Me
Nazrul Islam
Useful but since I’m such a newbie and still learning WordPress, I am stuck. I can’t even seem to log in because of the 500 internal server error. Do you know what I should do?
Ali osama
I’ve a problem after i changed permissions to be like above, this error appears :
“Application error
An error occurred in the website and your page could not be displayed. If you are the website owner, check your logs for details”
Ethan
This works for all types of PHP applications sitting on a website server and not only WordPress. My host denied me access to all folders and files including login page and registration page.
Little did i know that all my files and folders were still to 777 during local development. After changing folders and files recursively to 755 and 644 respectively it worked.
LB
Hi there, Im having issues in that I dont have sufficient permissions to change permissions through the FTP client… unable to create new folders. very frustrating, have spent ages looking for a solution. Running a WP multisite running on Amazon EC2). Thanks.
Suyog
@LB , you have limited access to your FTP account. Please contact Amazon to get you full access. or if you have server access then change permission in filezilla server.