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

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

In this post, we'll talk over what causes this error and other issues related to it. And so we'll walk you through three methods for resolving the "Installation failed: could not create directory" message so that you lot can complete your installation or update.

Allow's get started!

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

There are iii primary situations in which yous might see 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, let's accept a await at each of these situations in turn.

Installing a New Theme or Plugin on Your Site

Your WordPress site is made upward of 2 components: a database and various files that are stored on a server in 'directories.' When y'all use WordPress admin to add a theme or plugin to your site, it has to create a new directory in which to save its files.

All the same, if the plugin or theme y'all're attempting to install does non have permission to write in your website's root directory, information technology won't be able to complete this task. That'due south when y'all'll encounter an error such as "Installation failed: could not create directory."

This error is your server's style of saying that you're non allowed to make changes to your site'southward files by adding the plugin or theme in question. In full general, this is a problem that usually occurs on new WordPress sites.

It's important to annotation that in that location is a like, less common cause for this fault. If your server is running out of disk space to shop your site'due south files, it may show this aforementioned message because it has no room for the new plugin or theme. Read this guide to check disk usage in WordPress.

This may exist due to former backup files not being deleted, or information technology may happen because your hosting plan is too small for your site. In the latter example, you'll want to look into upgrading to some other hosting parcel that provides more 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 may see an fault very similar to the one we've described above. This one will typically read, "Update failed: could non create directory."

This problem occurs for the aforementioned reasons equally the "Installation failed could not create directory." fault. 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 not enough free space, the process will non be able to access the right files or upload new ones.

Since the cause of these two bug is the same, the solutions are identical equally well. Whatever methods for resolving the "Installation failed: could not create directory" fault listed below 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 foreclose unauthorized parties from making changes to your site or stealing sensitive information.

However, they tin sometimes lock you out of your own files if they aren't set up correctly.

This is why, if yous try to become around the "Installation failed: could non create directory." error in your WordPress dashboard by uploading the plugin'south or theme'south files direct to the wp-content directory on your server, y'all'll probable even so encounter the aforementioned problem. The mistake 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 same procedure as installing a new plugin or theme.

If you don't have permission to write in your root directory, uploading content to wp-content/uploads volition yet produce the error we've been discussing. To set up it, y'all'll need to adjust your server'due south settings, every bit we'll describe shortly.

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

The practiced news about this error is that it'south relatively easy to set up. Almost of the time, correcting your permissions will clear everything right up. All the same, earlier you start piece of work on that solution, y'all may want to make sure that it can solve your problem.

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

1. Employ the WordPress Site Health Tool

WordPress 5.2 introduced the Site Health tool. It contains a wealth of valuable information regarding your WordPress site, such as functioning examination results, security checks, and WordPress configuration data.

You lot can admission it past navigating to Tools > Site Health in your WordPress dashboard. To check your file permissions settings, you lot'll want to click on the Info tab:

Subscribe Now

site health
The WordPress Site Health tool

Then, curlicue down to the terminal section, which should be labeled Filesystem Permissions:

filesystem permissions
The WordPress Site Health Info tab

Here yous'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 Wellness Filesystem Permissions check

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

two. Cheque Your Server'due south Fault Log

Another option is to check your server'south fault log. This may be a more efficient method, equally it will display whatever errors that accept occurred, non simply incorrect file permissions. You lot should be able to access your logs via your hosting account.

If you're a Kinsta client, you 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, choose the Logs tab:

mykinsta error log
MyKinsta account Error Log viewer

From the drop-downward card, make sure that mistake.log is selected. Hither, yous should exist able to see whatsoever recent errors that take occurred on your server, including incorrect file permissions or insufficient storage, either of which may be causing the installation error.

If you come across a relevant fault listed, you lot can either right your file permissions or consider upgrading your hosting plan equally needed.

How to Set the "Installation Failed: Could Non Create Directory." Error in WordPress

If your site's permissions settings are causing the "Installation failed: could not create directory fault," you lot tin resolve it past resetting them. To practice so, you'll need to connect to your server via File Transfer Protocol (FTP), using an FTP client.

Whatever time you lot brand changes to your site's files, it'southward wise to create a backup beginning, just in case something goes incorrect and you demand to restore your site. So, collect your FTP credentials from your hosting account.

As a Kinsta customer, you tin can 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 up FileZilla (or some other client) and enter your information. You'll be continued to your server, where you should see 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 you don't see all the files, hither is a guide on how to testify hidden files in Filezilla. After that, select the folders labeled wp_content, wp_includes, and wp_admin. Right-click on them and cull File Permissions:

ftp file permissions
Selecting the file permissions option via FTP

Y'all should come across a window that contains a handful of settings:

ftp permissions window
Setting the correct file permissions via FTP

Check that the options hither are set to the post-obit values:

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

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

It'due south worth noting that some hosting providers, including those that use cPanel, have their own tools y'all can use without bothering with FTP/SFTP. You can often observe this tool by logging in to your hosting account, navigating to the site experiencing the error, and looking for a File Managing director.

Are yous getting the annoying 'Installation Failed: Could Not Create Directory' mistake? Get your WordPress site back again in just a few minutes post-obit these steps 🔙🐾 Click to Tweet

Summary

Your WordPress site's plugins and themes provide important functionality for you lot and your users. Encountering an fault when installing or updating ane tin throw a wrench in your plans and ho-hum down your progress.

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


Save time, costs and maximize site functioning with:

  • Instant assist from WordPress hosting experts, 24/vii.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audition attain with 29 data centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our built-in Awarding Performance Monitoring.

All of that and much more, in ane programme with no long-term contracts, assisted migrations, and a 30-day-coin-back-guarantee. Bank check out our plans or talk to sales to discover the plan that'southward right for yous.