Title: Installation failed: Could not create directory – Cause/Solution Process?
Last modified: January 10, 2017

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# Installation failed: Could not create directory – Cause/Solution Process?

 *  Resolved [PianoWorld](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pianoworld/)
 * (@pianoworld)
 * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installation-failed-could-not-create-directory-causesolution-process/)
 * Like many others I am experiencing the “Installation failed: Could not create
   directory.” issue. Happens when I try to install a new plugin, or when I try 
   to update an existing plugin (also happened when upgrading to 4.7).
 * My host IT guy has been trying to figure out the problem/solution based on permissions,
   ownership etc.
 * 3 Related questions if I may…
 * **1.)** Is there such thing as a recommended set of procedures to try to determine
   the cause, and a suggested order?
 * **2.)** Are there any lists of the required settings for WP file permissions ?
 * **3.)** Has anyone ever created a plugin that could help determine what is causing
   the issues (realizing you’d have to install it manually).
 * Currently using ResponsivePro theme (although planning to create child theme 
   once I get this problem resolved).
 * WP is a great CMS, but these issues are very frustrating and time consuming.
   
   Any help is much appreciated.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [luckychingi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/luckychingi/)
 * (@luckychingi)
 * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installation-failed-could-not-create-directory-causesolution-process/#post-8638488)
 * This looks more like a permission issue on the server.
 * Check which user is running the Apache instance and if the permissions are correct
   on the wp-content folder.
 *  Thread Starter [PianoWorld](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pianoworld/)
 * (@pianoworld)
 * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installation-failed-could-not-create-directory-causesolution-process/#post-8638959)
 * Turns out it was a permissions issue, but not with directories/folders/files,
   and there were no conflicts with plugins or themes.
 * **The problem was with the FTP!**.
 * Our host IT guy chased it down. I asked him to let me know what it was he found,
   so in his own words…
    “It was merely the vsftp.conf allowing ‘writes’. Yeah, 
   if the ftp has ever worked before (and it has for various other upgrades of course)
   then writes were on obviously.
 * I don’t know why they use that FTP thing specifically, perhaps to have a bit
   
   of privilege separation for security (but then all the rest of the structure 
   works against that and just calls for wide open everything).
 * Note that the directories that needed to be written we all allowed to be
    written
   by the webserver (and the ftp user too of course, which fewer people mention).
   Also needed to ensure that write-access was turned on in the ftp config. (As 
   I say I’m confused by that though because we’ve upgraded before!)
 * There was one small comment on stack exchange that made me think of it, here:
 * [http://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/7859/wp-upgrade-cant-create-directory-even-though-perms-are-777?newreg=024bf03d926b45969e4a70aa1ee9d8a6](http://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/7859/wp-upgrade-cant-create-directory-even-though-perms-are-777?newreg=024bf03d926b45969e4a70aa1ee9d8a6)
 * note that this topic is very popular in the wordpress world, you can find dozens
   
   of pages on ‘cannot create directory’ and only this one mentioned the ftp issue.
 * /kc”
 * Now I’m not implying this would be the case with every Could Not Create Directory
   issue. But it is one to keep in mind and a relatively easy one to check out and
   implement.
 * At least this is one solution to the dreaded Could Not Create Directory problem.
 * Best,
    Frank B. Piano World

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

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## Tags

 * [could not create directory](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/could-not-create-directory/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [PianoWorld](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pianoworld/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installation-failed-could-not-create-directory-causesolution-process/#post-8638959)
 * Status: resolved

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