Title: Image uploads – parent directory writable Last modified: August 19, 2016 --- # Image uploads – parent directory writable * Resolved [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/) * I am getting this error message when attempting to upload images… ”Unable to create directory /var/www/vhosts/markmuggeridge.co.uk/httpdocs/wp-content/uploads. Is its parent directory writable by the server?” Looking at the folders etc that‘ shipped’ with word press there is no folder called ‘wp-content/uploads’ What is meant by the ‘parent directory’ Thanks Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total) * [Lucian Florian](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fldtrace/) * (@fldtrace) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125505) * You should go in control panel, settings->miscellaneous and you should check if you have: wp-content/uploads * When you move the database from localhost up, you encounter that type of problem. * Thread Starter [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125560) * Thanks, have set to :wp-content/uploads. When looking at the content of the server there is no folder in wp-content called uploads. Does the sytem want to write this folder? I have submitted a query to hosting provider asking if server has ‘mod_rewrite Apache module’. Can you shed any light on this ‘missing folder’– I did create them ‘manually’ but made no difference. * Thanks. * [shane-g](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shane-g/) * (@shane-g) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125566) * Hi, * Please ask the hosting service provider to set 766 recursive permissions to wp- contents folder and set the desired path for the file/image upload… * once the permissions aer set..folders will be created automatically.. * Thanks, * Shane G. * Thread Starter [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125567) * Hi, * Thanks have submitted support ticket to this effect. Will update on outcome soonest… * Many thanks, * Mark * [henkholland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henkholland/) * (@henkholland) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125573) * DO you have ftp access? Then just create the folder yourself in wp-content. Set the rights of wp-content to 0755 and for uploads to 0777. Usually through rightclick on folder and then select properties. I am using WIN-SCP for that. Is also good for backing up your uploads (images etc) because these are not included in the XML export through the dashboard. * Thread Starter [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125584) * Hi Henk, * There is a folder there now ‘wp-content/uploads’ * Thanks for the info, yes I do have ftp and have set permissions as you suggest and getting the same error message. * I am using Dreamweaver to do this on Apple Mac. * Thanks, I shall persevere, am in contact with Hosting providers help desk too, will see if I can ask them to set permissions. * Possibly use different ftp client. * This WILL work, it does for thousands of others. * Cheers, * Mark * Thread Starter [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125594) * Hi, * Okay all permissions are set as they should be… * wp-content to 755 and for uploads to 777 * and still getting error message… * The uploaded file could not be moved to /var/www/vhosts/markmuggeridge.co.uk/ httpdocs/wp-content/uploads * Any ideas, have checked the image via the Worpress account rather than ‘selfhosting’ and it is working…. * There is plenty of memory on the Vserver. * Am using Easyspace to host and their technicians assure me other people are hosting on their Vservers… * Look forward to a solution…. 🙂 * Thanks. * Mark * Thread Starter [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125596) * I have unchecked the php safe mode so it is switched off and now images are uploading…. * Useful info… or what!!! * Thanks all… * 🙂 * [amandaguthrie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/amandaguthrie/) * (@amandaguthrie) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125604) * Hi Mark I am having the same issue, I would really appreciate your help. I dont know how to query the server or even where to locate it and I really need to create the images file so I can get started I have already shut down the blog I moved so I am not getting traffic in either direction. Could you please explain how I can do what you did to create the * [henkholland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henkholland/) * (@henkholland) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125657) * hi Muggeridge, * Good that it is working now but I am surprised about the solution. I am on a “ safe mode” server and only had your first problem some time ago; i.e. “unable to create directory…” * How did you “uncheck the safe mode”? * [@amandaguthrie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/amandaguthrie/): did you create the directory “uploads” within wp-content and set the permissions over ftp? * Thread Starter [muggeridge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/muggeridge/) * (@muggeridge) * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125663) * Hi, * I have got a server from easyspace (hosting provider) rather than ‘regular’ hosting so am able to login into server control panel. * If you can’t do this possibly get in touch with the hosting provider and ask if php safe mode is on or off. * The folders also require permissions to be set to: * wp-content to 755 and for uploads to 777 * Yes, I did you create the directory “uploads” manually with Cyberduck (am on a mac) within wp-content and set the permissions over ftp, I used Dreamweaver for this simple right click on the folder in question. * Great for some others to benefit from my efforts, took about 10 hours to suss this one, phew! * Best wishes and may the force be with you. * Mark * [joshehrlich](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joshehrlich/) * (@joshehrlich) * [16 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125855) * Here’s how I resolved the problem (after everything I found on the internet was unable to fix it): * My wp-config.php wasn’t writable by the web server. I had had to upload that file manually when setting up the server. Resolving this can vary, depending on your server configuration, but you’ll want to make sure that the file is owned by a group that your web server is in, and the the group has write permission( 755). _I would be extremely hesitant to set the permissions mode to 777, as some people are recommending with the uploads folder._ * This may not be of use to anyone else trying to debug this problem, but I thought I’d put it out there since I didn’t see it anywhere else. * -josh Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total) The topic ‘Image uploads – parent directory writable’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 12 replies * 6 participants * Last reply from: [joshehrlich](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joshehrlich/) * Last activity: [16 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/image-uploads-parent-directory-writable/#post-1125855) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics