Errors on your WordPress site can tiresome down your work and create serious inconveniences for both you and your users. For example, the "Installation failed: could not create directory" message tin prevent you from providing a fundamental feature or functionality.

Luckily, resolving this mistake is adequately unproblematic. By tweaking only a few settings, y'all can easily become your WordPress plugin or WordPress theme up and running in no time.

In this postal service, we'll discuss what causes this error and other issues related to information technology. Then nosotros'll walk you lot through iii methods for resolving the "Installation failed: could non create directory" message and then that you can complete your installation or update.

Let'south get started!

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

In that location are iii primary situations in which you 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. Nevertheless, let's take a look at each of these situations in plough.

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 you utilize 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 y'all're attempting to install does non have permission to write in your website's root directory, it won't exist able to complete this task. That's when you'll see an error such as "Installation failed: could not create directory."

This mistake 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 commonly occurs on new WordPress sites.

It's of import to annotation that there is a similar, less common cause for this error. If your server is running out of disk space to store your site'south files, it may evidence this same message because information technology has no room for the new plugin or theme. Read this guide to check disk usage in WordPress.

This may be due to old fill-in files non being deleted, or it may happen considering your hosting program is too small for your site. In the latter instance, you'll desire to look into upgrading to another hosting package that provides more than storage.

Updating an Existing Theme or Plugin

Sometimes, when attempting to upgrade a WordPress theme or plugin that's already installed on your site, you lot may see an mistake very similar to the one we've described in a higher place. This one will typically read, "Update failed: could not create directory."

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

Since the crusade of these 2 issues is the aforementioned, the solutions are identical as well. Any methods for resolving the "Installation failed: could not create directory" error listed below should likewise piece of work for a stalled update.

Uploading Files to the wp-content Directory

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

Yet, they can sometimes lock you lot out of your own files if they aren't set correctly.

This is why, if you try to get around the "Installation failed: could not create directory." error in your WordPress dashboard by uploading the plugin's or theme'due south files directly to the wp-content directory on your server, yous'll likely notwithstanding encounter the same problem. The error occurs considering of a problem with your server, not your WordPress installation.

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

If yous don't have permission to write in your root directory, uploading content to wp-content/uploads volition withal produce the error we've been discussing. To fix it, you'll need to adjust your server'due south settings, every bit we'll depict soon.

Diagnosing the "Installation Failed: Could Non Create Directory." Fault in WordPress (ii Methods)

The good news almost this fault is that information technology'southward relatively piece of cake to fix. Most of the time, correcting your permissions will clear everything right up. However, earlier you start piece of work on that solution, you may want to make sure that information technology can solve your problem.

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

i. Use the WordPress Site Health Tool

WordPress 5.2 introduced the Site Health tool. Information technology contains a wealth of valuable data regarding your WordPress site, such as performance test results, security checks, and WordPress configuration information.

You lot 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 Wellness tool

So, scroll down to the terminal section, which should exist labeled Filesystem Permissions:

filesystem permissions
The WordPress Site Health Info tab

Hither you'll see a list of crucial WordPress files, including the plugin and theme directories. Ideally, they will all be listed as "Writable":

filesystems writable
The WordPress Site Health Filesystem Permissions cheque

If your permissions are non configured correctly, you'll see "Not writable" listed adjacent to the problematic folders. If this is the case, you'll know that you demand to correct your file permissions.

2. Check Your Server's Error Log

Some other pick is to bank check your server's error log. This may be a more than efficient method, as it will brandish any errors that accept occurred, not just incorrect file permissions. You should exist able to access your logs via your hosting account.

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

kinsta dashboard sites
MyKinsta dashboard

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

mykinsta error log
MyKinsta account Error Log viewer

From the drop-downwardly card, make certain that error.log is selected. Here, you lot 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 error.

If you run into a relevant error listed, you tin either correct your file permissions or consider upgrading your hosting plan as needed.

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

If your site's permissions settings are causing the "Installation failed: could non create directory fault," yous can resolve information technology past resetting them. To exercise so, you'll need to connect to your server via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), using an FTP client.

Any fourth dimension you brand changes to your site's files, it's wise to create a fill-in kickoff, just in case something goes wrong and y'all need to restore your site. And then, collect your FTP credentials from your hosting account.

As a Kinsta customer, you can do this past accessing the Info tab for your site in the MyKinsta dashboard:

kinsta ftp info
Accessing the site FTP credentials in MyKinsta

Then, open up FileZilla (or another client) and enter your information. You'll be connected to your server, where you should come across a folder chosen public_html. Double-click on it to view your WordPress files:

ftp public html
Accessing the public_html directory via FTP

If yous don't see all the files, hither is a guide on how to bear witness subconscious files in Filezilla. Subsequently that, select the folders labeled wp_content, wp_includes, and wp_admin. Correct-click on them and cull File Permissions:

ftp file permissions
Selecting the file permissions selection via FTP

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

ftp permissions window
Setting the correct file permissions via FTP

Check that the options here are gear up to the post-obit values:

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

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

Information technology'south worth noting that some hosting providers, including those that use cPanel, have their own tools you lot can use without bothering with FTP/SFTP. You tin can ofttimes find this tool by logging in to your hosting business relationship, navigating to the site experiencing the error, and looking for a File Manager.

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Summary

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

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


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