Troubleshooting WordPress Error: Unable to Create Directory

The “Unable to create directory” error in WordPress is a common issue that can prevent users from uploading media files or creating new folders. This error typically stems from incorrect folder paths or insufficient directory permissions. It often appears after migrating a site to a new hosting provider or making changes to the server environment.

Below are examples of the “Unable to create directory” error in WordPress:

• Unable to create directory /wp-content/uploads/2010/mydir/winter/ Is its parent directory writable by the server?
• Unable to create directory wp-content/uploads
• Unable to create directory wp-content/uploads/2009/02

How to Fix “Cannot Create Directory” Error in WordPress

This guide walks you through two effective solutions to resolve the issue:

• Updating the Uploads Folder Directory – Ensuring WordPress correctly identifies the location of the uploads folder by modifying the wp-config.php file.
• Fixing Directory Permission Problems – Resetting folder permissions to make the uploads directory writable by the server.

By following these steps, you can restore full media upload functionality and prevent future directory-related errors in WordPress.

Updating the Uploads Folder Directory

Occasionally, the error message arises because WordPress cannot identify the uploads folder’s location. This issue might occur when you migrate your site to a new hosting provider. To resolve this problem, you must modify your WordPress configuration file.

1. Access your File Manager.
2. Search for the wp-config.php file, usually in /public_html.
3. Edit the wp.config.php file and add the code below before the “require_once(ABSPATH . ‘wp-settings.php’);” code.
   For detailed instructions on how to edit files in your File Manager, check out Editing a File in the article: File Manager – How to Create, Remove, and Edit Files. define( 'UPLOADS', 'wp-content/uploads' );

Fixing Directory Permission Problems in WordPress

If the error still shows after following the troubleshooting steps above, consider resetting your uploads folder’s permissions. To fix WordPress directory permission issues, follow these steps:

1. Access your File Manager.
2. Look for the wp-content folder in your WordPress directory (typically found in /public_html).
3. Change the file permission of your uploads folder to 755. 

See How to Change File Permissions in cPanel for step-by-step instructions on changing file permissions.

A 755 permission allows you to read, write, and execute the file, which is important to make the directory writable.

You can also try using FTP to fix directory permission problems in WordPress. Look for your wp-content folder and update the uploads folder permission to 755. Please see our FTP Client Recommendations.

Summary

Fix the “Cannot Create Directory” error in WordPress. You can update the uploads folder directory by modifying the WordPress configuration file. If that does not work, reset the uploads folder’s permissions by changing the file permissions to 755.