Title: Error message: WordPress does not have write access
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Error message: WordPress does not have write access

 *  Resolved [darkban](https://wordpress.org/support/users/darkban/)
 * (@darkban)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/)
 * Good day,
 * Up until now the plugin worked perfectly. Today, after the last update suddenly
   the wp2db setting page started showing me a fatal error for not having write 
   permissions.
 * I tried to re-install and it didn’t have any effect. Tried changing the CHMOD
   to something more permissive than 755 and it didn’t change saying that for some
   reason i don’t have permissions to change it.
 * As I’m able to change the permissions to anything else, I really don’t know how
   to make the plugin work for me.
 * Could you please advise me what to do?
 * Many Thanks in Advance,
    L.
 * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-backup-to-dropbox/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-backup-to-dropbox/)

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  Plugin Contributor [Michael De Wildt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaeldewildt/)
 * (@michaeldewildt)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776049)
 * Gday mate,
 * Hmm… Has anything changed on your server?
 * What is the exact wording of the message you are getting?
 * Cheers,
    Mikey
 *  Thread Starter [darkban](https://wordpress.org/support/users/darkban/)
 * (@darkban)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776062)
 * Gday Mikey,
 * Nothing has changed on my server (as I know).
 * The message that I’m getting is:
 * > **Error message**: WordPress does not have write access to ‘/home/operatio/
   > public_html/wp-content/backups’. Please grant it write privileges before using
   > this plugin.
 * The current CHMOD privileges are 755.
 * BTW: Your plugin is great. Many thanks on creating it as it saved me couple of
   time after hacking attempts.
 *  Plugin Contributor [Michael De Wildt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaeldewildt/)
 * (@michaeldewildt)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776065)
 * It’s possible that your Apache server is now running under a different user/permissions
   so 755 wont work any more.
 * If it now runs in the same group as your FTP client then 765 should work. If 
   not then you will have to go with 766.
 * Cheers,
    Mikey
 *  Thread Starter [darkban](https://wordpress.org/support/users/darkban/)
 * (@darkban)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776068)
 * Well, it’s only that specific subdir that i cannot change permission to. I can
   change the permission to anything else but that.
 * Maybe there’s a way to completely uninstall the plugin so I can re-install it?
 *  Plugin Contributor [Michael De Wildt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaeldewildt/)
 * (@michaeldewildt)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776074)
 * This is very odd,
 * It appears that the backup directory was originally created by an Apache instance
   running as a different user to what it is now and what your FTP client runs as.
 * I would raise an issue with your host to get directory removed or owner changed
   to something that both Apache and FTP can access.
 * Unfortunately it’s not best practice for plugins to delete shared folders like
   backups on uninstall just in case it contains something that the user does not
   want removed.
 * Cheers,
    Mikey
 *  Thread Starter [darkban](https://wordpress.org/support/users/darkban/)
 * (@darkban)
 * [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776087)
 * Thanks Mikey!
 * L.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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## Tags

 * [write-access](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/write-access/)

 * 6 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [darkban](https://wordpress.org/support/users/darkban/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-wordpress-does-not-have-write-access/#post-3776087)
 * Status: resolved