Title: Root directory FAIL  Is Writable by PHP
Last modified: August 30, 2016

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# Root directory FAIL Is Writable by PHP

 *  Resolved [atsites45](https://wordpress.org/support/users/atsites45/)
 * (@atsites45)
 * [10 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/)
 * Hello,
 * Can anyone give me a pointer to solve or workaround this sole error on the start
   of the installer process?
 * regards
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/)

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

 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [10 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-6652585)
 * Hey Atsites,
 * You will need to adjust the permission on the folder. Here is a good overview
   for how to do that:
    [https://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions](https://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions)
 * Hope that helps!
 *  [MrDamasajaga](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mrdamasajaga/)
 * (@mrdamasajaga)
 * [10 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-6652594)
 * Could you please explain why this module needs write permissions on the root 
   directory?
    I consider this insecure. I love the module, but won’t give php write
   permissions on my root folder. Shouldn’t it be enough to have write access in
   the subdir “wp-snapshots”?
 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [10 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-6652626)
 * Hey Mrdamasajaga,
 * It should only be writable by the owner/user (755) of the PHP process. The wp-
   snapshots is not part of the archival process as its filtered at build time. 
   When the package is created it needs to write the database.sql file to the root
   of your site for later use in the archive. Also on the installer in order for
   PHP to unzip the archive.zip and update your wp-config.php it has to have write
   permissions.
 * This is also true of even core WP code which writes to files such as the .htaccess
   which is in your root when saving permalink settings and a general recommendation
   by WP:
 * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Hardening_WordPress](http://codex.wordpress.org/Hardening_WordPress)
 * > The root WordPress directory: all files should be writable only by your user
   > account, except .htaccess if you want WordPress to automatically generate rewrite
   > rules for you.
 * If your going above and beyond the WP settings then the only way to get around
   the issue would be to allot for a new path (i.e. wp-content) for the database.
   sql This currently is not supported, but may be a possibility. You are the first
   person to ask for a different route…
 *  [Tayyab Rasheed](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tayyab910629/)
 * (@tayyab910629)
 * [9 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-8301848)
 * Please see this snap… [http://prntscr.com/cu0spy](http://prntscr.com/cu0spy)
 * i am getting this error even i tried to change the permission to 755
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by [Tayyab Rasheed](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tayyab910629/).
 *  [marcobaleno](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marcobaleno/)
 * (@marcobaleno)
 * [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-8338690)
 * hello,
    i’ve got the same problem. do you resolved? thanks!
 *  [Tayyab Rasheed](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tayyab910629/)
 * (@tayyab910629)
 * [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-8339099)
 * [@marcobaleno](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marcobaleno/) yes its resolved
   because some hosting does not allowed duplicator or many plugins on root dir 
   like example.com
 * so you have to create a new folder like example.com/folder_name
 * then upload installer.php to that new folder then upload zip file into main dir
   example.com
 * then run example.com/folder_name/installer.php
 * it should work… i hope this will work if i still remember…
 * Thanks

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

The topic ‘Root directory FAIL Is Writable by PHP’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 6 replies
 * 5 participants
 * Last reply from: [Tayyab Rasheed](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tayyab910629/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/root-directory-fail-is-writable-by-php/#post-8339099)
 * Status: resolved