Title: Changing directory now cannot get into admin Last modified: August 24, 2016 --- # Changing directory now cannot get into admin * Resolved [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/) * I was trying to follow directions from [http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory](http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory) to redirect from a pre-existing subdirectory to the root directory. I made a mistake in the index.php:in copying, adding a line, and moving it. Now I cannot access the site nor the wp-admin. * My install is at: im.mikediane.com/wp The root directory I was trying to use was: im.mikediane.com I had changed the site address on the General panel. * Can anyone please help? Thank you, Diane Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 185 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/2/?output_format=md) [3](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/3/?output_format=md)… [11](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/11/?output_format=md) [12](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/12/?output_format=md) [13](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/13/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/2/?output_format=md) * [Radices](https://wordpress.org/support/users/radices/) * (@radices) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125104) * You can change or delete the file using FTP. Also did you edit and move the . htaccess file? * [Mark Ratledge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/songdogtech/) * (@songdogtech) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125110) * > I had changed the site address on the General panel…. * If you changed the URL in WordPress admin, see [Changing The Site URL « WordPress Codex](http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_The_Site_URL) for recovery instructions. * But that’s a completely different change than you did with the index.php and . htaccess files to move from the subdirectory to root as outlined in [http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory](http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory) * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125149) * I’ll try to tell you just what I did. I followed these directions from codex: * 1. If you already have WordPress installed in its own folder (e.g., [http://example.com/wordpress](http://example.com/wordpress)), then the steps are as follows: * Go to the General panel. In the box for Site address (URL): change the address to the root directory’s URL. Example: [http://example.com](http://example.com) Click Save Changes. (Do not worry about the error message and do not try to see your blog at this point! You will probably get a message about file not found.) Copy (NOT MOVE!) the index.php and .htaccess files from the WordPress (wordpress in our example) directory into the root directory of your site. * (I did not have an .htaccess file.) Then I did the following: Edit your root directory’s index.php. Open your root directory’s index.php file in a text editor Change the line that says: require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . ‘/wp-blog-header.php’); to the following, using your directory name for the WordPress core files: require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . ‘/wordpress/wp-blog-header.php’ ); Save the file. Login to your site (if you aren’t still already). The URL should still be [http://example.com/wordpress/wp-admin/](http://example.com/wordpress/wp-admin/) * After this, when I go to my site: [http://im.mikediane.com](http://im.mikediane.com) I get the content, but no template. Exactly the same thing happens when I go to the subdirectory install: [http://im.mikediane.com/wp/](http://im.mikediane.com/wp/) The same thing happens when I use the wp-admin added to each of these urls. * I hope this helps to explain my problem. Thank you very much for your help! Diane * [abletec](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abletec/) * (@abletec) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125154) * Well, I think the problem, here Diane, is that you copied the instructions, but the directory name the codex used is wordpress, & you’ve installed yours to wp. If you’ll change wordpress to wp, I think you should be ok. You should also copy the .htaccess file in the wp directory to the root. * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125155) * Actually, I did that. This is how I wrote that line: require( dirname( __FILE__).‘/ wp/wp-blog-header.php’ ); * Is that the correct way? * Thanks! Diane * [abletec](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abletec/) * (@abletec) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125157) * Diane, I’m seeing your site. When I type [http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-admin](http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-admin) or [http://im.mikediane.com/wp-admin](http://im.mikediane.com/wp-admin) I get your homepage, which is not expected behavior, so I rather suspect that either a plugin or your .htaccess is causing it. However, you can still log into your site by typing: [http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-login.php](http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-login.php) * We can look at your .htaccess file, if you wish. Also, please advise us of any security &/or content hiding plugins that might be running which could cause this sort of behavior. * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125158) * There is no .htaccess file in wither the root directory or the sub directory. What do I do about that? * Thanks, Diane * [abletec](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abletec/) * (@abletec) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125159) * To create a .htaccess file, the easiest way is likely to go to ‘Settings > Permalinks’& change from the default to another style like postname, & please *be sure* to save the settings. That will create a .htaccess file in your wp folder, which you can then *copy* to your root. * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125160) * I’m sorry, I was distracted and didn’t see your most recent reply when I posted the last comment. * It is very unexpected behavior. I would really appreciate anything you can do to repair this problem. I don’t believe there are any plugins or security that would interfere with your help. * Thanks! * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125161) * I don’t see how to get to the Settings> Permalinks if I cannot get into my wp- admin page. * [abletec](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abletec/) * (@abletec) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125162) * Diane, I’m afraid you’re under the mistaken impression that we in the support forums can somehow go into your website & repair it. We can’t, as we have no access. We have no idea what plugins you’re running, etc. The self-hosted version of WordPress, i.e., from wordpress.org, resides on your server, & we on the support forums have no access to anyone’s server. Sometimes I pull my hair out because of that, ie., if we did, we could likely solve the problem much more quickly, at least in some cases. * When I’ve seen this behavior before, it is generally due to some sort of plugin, either security or content restricting. If you could go into your wp-content/ plugins folder & provide us w/the names of the plugins there, it might really help us to be able to track down this behavior. * I’m sorry. I know this is really frustrating for you. * [abletec](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abletec/) * (@abletec) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125163) * Diane, you can indeed log in, as I said in my prior post, by going to: [http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-login.php](http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-login.php) * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125166) * I’m sorry this is so complicated. I understand your limitations and appreciate anything you can do to save the mess. * When I use the above link including: wp/wp-login.php, I just get the home page of my site without the template. * My plugins are: askimet, jquery-drop-down-menu-plugin, printfriendly, and responsive- add-ons. * Thanks! * Thread Starter [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * (@pwdiane) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125167) * I have to leave my office for a while. I’ll get back to you and do as you suggest. * Blessings to you, Jackie McBride! * [abletec](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abletec/) * (@abletec) * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/#post-6125168) * pw Diane, please clear your cache, cookies, etc. from your browser, or please use a browser you haven’t used before to work on your site. * Then, please copy & paste the following into the address bar of your browser. [http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-login.php](http://im.mikediane.com/wp/wp-login.php) * I receive the typical login screen when I do that. * I’m guessing pw stands for pastor’s wife? Me, too–though sometimes I think maybe it should be POW instead lolol. * We’ll sort this out. We pw’s gotta stick together, right? Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 185 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/2/?output_format=md) [3](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/3/?output_format=md)… [11](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/11/?output_format=md) [12](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/12/?output_format=md) [13](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/13/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Changing directory now cannot get into admin’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [redirect](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/redirect/) * [root directory](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/root-directory/) * [subdirectory](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/subdirectory/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 185 replies * 6 participants * Last reply from: [pwdiane](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pwdiane/) * Last activity: [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/changing-directory-now-cannot-get-into-admin/page/13/#post-6125506) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics