Title: Writeable Files
Last modified: August 18, 2016

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# Writeable Files

 *  [allison717](https://wordpress.org/support/users/allison717/)
 * (@allison717)
 * [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/)
 * Sometime after I upgraded WP (but not *when* I did it — I know I edited K2 at
   least once from within the system), I started getting an error message in the
   WP admin interface if I tried to edit theme files (css and the like). The error:
   <i>If this file were writable you could edit it.</i>
 * In theory, I can d/l the css and make changes locally, then upload them, but 
   I tend to be an edit/save/view/edit/save/view type of designer, so that would
   be a real pain. I’ve checked on the cPanel File Manager, and I show my permissions
   set at 777, which I believe (just learning) is actually the lowest security possible.
 * Help?
 * (btw, I have searched the forums and read the other posts on this topic, but 
   none of the answers seem to help me so far)

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/#post-397612)
 * CHMOD 777 is the worst setting for security. Theme files you edit from inside
   the editor need to be 666. Be sure and change them to 644 when you’re done.
    
   Assuming Apache/Linux – all folders should be 755 and all files 644.
 *  Thread Starter [allison717](https://wordpress.org/support/users/allison717/)
 * (@allison717)
 * [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/#post-397617)
 * I get that (and full plan to make these changes once I get this problem fixed),
   but if my security settings are at the lowest possible setting, why in the world
   am I getting the non-writeable file error?
 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/#post-397620)
 * Look at the file you specifically want to edit. If it’s really 777 it will work.
   If it’s 644, it won’t.
 *  Thread Starter [allison717](https://wordpress.org/support/users/allison717/)
 * (@allison717)
 * [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/#post-397626)
 * Hmmm…weird. Most of the files within my current theme directory were listed as
   666, but I was unable to edit them in WP. I changed them to 777, and now I can
   access them.
 * This brings up a couple questions:
 * 1) Why did the access change in the first place? (Remember, I’d previously been
   able to make changes.)
 * 2) Why can’t I edit files that are set to 666?
 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/#post-397638)
 * Glad you figured it out.
    I would ask my host those very same questions as 666
   is writeable.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Writeable Files’ is closed to new replies.

 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * Last activity: [20 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/writeable-files/#post-397638)
 * Status: not resolved

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