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My WordPress Blog Works, but I Cannot Upload Images

While working on your site, you suddenly got an error:

Unable to create directory /wp-content/uploads/... Is its parent directory writable by the server?

This article discusses the common causes of this error and the recommended solutions.

What are the common causes?

We have also listed our support articles to guide you with your WordPress journey. Please see the Related Articles section below ⤵.

Hey! Creating a backup for your WordPress files is strongly recommended. You can trust our professional service, CodeGuard, to create daily automatic backups and alert you if sketchy changes are found on your WordPress website.

Recommended solutions

Incorrect pathways of the WordPress files

  1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Settings from the left menu, then select Media.

    WordPress Dashboard - Settings

  3. In the Media Settings page, look for the Store uploads in this folder field.
  4. Make sure the path should displays wp-content/uploads (remove "/" before "wp-content"). If not, correct the path.

If the Store uploads in this folder field is not found on the Media Settings page, follow these steps.

  1. Log in to cPanel or connect to your FTP.
  2. Look for the Files section and click the File Manager icon.

    cPanel - File Manager

  3. Click your WordPress site's document root or folder.
  4. Look for the wp-content folder. Make sure that the uploads folder exists inside wp-content. Remember that the uploaded files go inside the file path wp-content/uploads.

    File Manager - wp-content folder

Incorrect folder or directory permissions

If the pathway for the wp-content/uploads folder is correct, but you still cannot upload your media files, there may be incorrect permissions afoot.

To fix your folder or directory permissions:

  1. Log in to cPanel or connect to your FTP.
  2. Look for the Files section and click the File Manager icon.

    cPanel - File Manager

  3. Click your WordPress site's document root or folder.
  4. Look for the wp-content folder.

    File Manager - wp-content folder

  5. Check the wp-content folder's Permissions column on the far right and ensure it is showing as 755.
  6. If it's not showing as 755, double-click the set of numbers under the Permissions column. Make changes on the permission and hit Save.

    Change file permissions

Incorrect internal file or folder permissions

If the issue persists beyond having updated the wp-content folder pathway or folder's permissions, consider the possibility that the culprit is the permissions of the internal file(s) or folder(s).

  1. Navigate inside the folder or directory and ensure that the hidden files are shown.
  2. Click on the Settings button in the top-right corner.

    File Manager - Settings button

  3. Put a checkmark on Show Hidden Files (dotfiles) and click Save.

    Show hidden files

  4. Check that each internal file and folder's permissions are set as follows:
    • WordPress files have 644 permissions.
    • WordPress folders have 755 permissions.

    File Manager - Permissions

  5. If the file or folder is not showing the correct permissions, double-click the set of numbers under the Permissions column. Make changes on the permission and hit Save.

    Change file permissions