How to Fix “Error Writing File” on WordPress Upload

Uploading files in WordPress should be simple. You click Add Media, choose your image, PDF, or plugin zip, and it uploads instantly. But when WordPress throws the dreaded “Error writing file” message, everything comes to a halt. If you’re facing the “Error Writing File” issue on a live website and need it fixed urgently, you can get professional help through our
Emergency WordPress Support service, where WordPress experts diagnose and resolve upload, server, and permission issues quickly without risking your site.

This error usually appears when uploading:

• Images in the Media Library

• Plugins or themes

• PDFs or large media files

And the worst part? WordPress often doesn’t explain why it happened.

If you’re seeing the Error writing file message, your site is telling you one thing clearly: the server cannot save files where WordPress expects to.

In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn:

• What causes the “Error writing file” issue in WordPress

• How to fix it step-by-step (beginner to advanced)

• Server-level solutions that actually work

• Code snippets where required

• Permanent prevention tips

This guide is written for site owners, developers, and agencies who want a real fix, not temporary workarounds.

What Does “Error Writing File” Mean in WordPress?

When you upload a file, WordPress performs these actions:

1. Receives the file via PHP

2. Checks upload size and file type

3. Writes the file to /wp-content/uploads/

4. Generates metadata (for images)

The error occurs when step 3 fails.

That means:

• PHP cannot write the file

• The directory is not writable

• The server blocks the write process

WordPress itself is not broken. The problem lies in permissions, storage, PHP configuration, or server security rules.

Common Causes of “Error Writing File” in WordPress

Before jumping into fixes, it’s important to understand what triggers this issue.

1. Incorrect Folder Permissions

The most common cause. Sometimes the upload fails not because of permissions or memory, but because WordPress blocks certain file formats by default. If you see upload errors related to unsupported formats, you should also fix the “You Can’t Add This File Type” Error in WordPress, as restricted MIME types can trigger file upload failures that look similar to the “Error Writing File” issue.

If WordPress does not have permission to write to:

uploads will fail instantly.

2. Ownership Mismatch (User/Group Issue)

Even with correct permissions, uploads can fail if:

• Files are owned by root

• PHP runs as a different user than the file owner

This is very common on VPS and cloud servers.

3. Insufficient Disk Space

If your server runs out of storage:

• WordPress cannot write files

• Uploads silently fail

• Error writing file appears

4. PHP Upload Limits

In many cases, the “Error Writing File” problem is directly related to low PHP memory limits. If your uploads fail during processing, you should also fix the
Allowed Memory Size Exhausted Error in WordPress, as increasing memory often resolves file write failures during uploads. Low PHP limits can break uploads:

• upload_max_filesize

• post_max_size

• memory_limit

5. Server Security Modules

Security layers can block uploads:

• ModSecurity

• SELinux

• Imunify360

• Web Application Firewalls

6. Corrupted Uploads Directory

If the uploads folder is missing or corrupted, WordPress has nowhere to save files.

7. Hosting Misconfiguration

Shared hosting environments sometimes:

• Lock directories

• Disable write access

• Restrict PHP file handling

On shared hosting, limited resources can silently break uploads even when permissions look correct. If your site consumes excessive memory, it can trigger file write failures and upload errors. In such cases, you should also resolve the WordPress Using Too Much RAM on Shared Hosting issue to stabilize uploads and prevent recurring “Error Writing File” problems.

Step 1: Check and Fix Folder Permissions (Most Important)

WordPress requires specific permissions to function correctly.

Correct Permissions for WordPress

Required Writable Folders

Fix Permissions via File Manager (cPanel)

1. Open cPanel

2. Go to File Manager

3. Navigate to public_html

4. Right-click wp-content

5. Select Change Permissions

6. Set to 755

7. Enable “Recurse into subdirectories”

8. Apply to directories only

Repeat for uploads.

Fix Permissions via SSH (Recommended)

Step 2: Fix File Ownership (Critical for VPS Servers)

Permissions alone are not enough if ownership is wrong.

Check Ownership

If you see root root, WordPress will fail.

Fix Ownership (Apache Example)

For cPanel servers:

Replace username with your actual hosting user.

Step 3: Verify Disk Space on Server

Low disk space is a silent killer.

Check Disk Usage (SSH)

If usage is near 100%, uploads will fail.

Fix Low Disk Space

• Delete old backups

• Remove unused plugins/themes

• Clear cache directories

• Increase hosting storage

Step 4: Increase PHP Upload Limits

Low PHP limits can trigger writing errors even for small files.

Recommended PHP Values

Method 1: Edit php.ini

Method 2: Add to .htaccess

Method 3: Add to wp-config.php

Step 5: Recreate the Uploads Folder

If the folder is missing or corrupted, WordPress cannot write files.

Manually Create Uploads Folder

1. Go to wp-content

2. Create a folder named uploads

3. Set permission to 755

Ensure WordPress Can Create Subfolders

WordPress creates folders like:

If these fail to generate, permissions are still incorrect.

Step 6: Disable ModSecurity or Firewall Rules

Security modules can block uploads even if everything else is correct.

Temporarily Disable ModSecurity (cPanel)

• Open cPanel

• Go to ModSecurity

• Disable for your domain

• Test upload

• Re-enable after testing

Disable via .htaccess (If Allowed)

Step 7: Check SELinux (Advanced Servers)

SELinux can silently block write access.

Check SELinux Status

Temporarily Disable SELinux

Permanent change requires policy updates.

Step 8: Fix WordPress Temp Directory Issue

Sometimes WordPress cannot access a temporary directory.

Define Temp Directory in wp-config.php

Then create the folder:

Set permission to 755.

Step 9: Check Server Error Logs

Error logs often reveal the real issue. When WordPress does not clearly explain why uploads fail, enabling debugging is often the fastest way to identify the root cause. You should turn on
WordPress Debug Mode to Find Errors to capture detailed logs that reveal permission issues, memory limits, or server restrictions responsible for the “Error Writing File” message.

Enable WordPress Debugging

Check:

Step 10: Contact Hosting Support (Last Resort)

If everything checks out, the issue is likely server-side.

Provide your host with:

• Error message screenshot

• Upload path

• Time of error

• Confirmation of permissions

How to Prevent “Error Writing File” in the Future

After fixing upload errors and optimizing your site, caching plays a major role in reducing server load and preventing resource-related issues. Choosing the right caching solution can significantly improve stability on shared and VPS hosting. Check out the Best WordPress Caching Plugins to speed up your site and minimize server strain that can indirectly cause file upload problems.

• Keep disk space monitored

• Avoid running WordPress as root

• Use proper backup rotation

• Don’t change permissions randomly

• Keep PHP updated

• Use reliable hosting

Long-term stability matters just as much as fixing the error itself. Once your uploads are working correctly, applying proper optimization practices helps reduce server load and prevents similar issues from returning. Follow these WordPress Optimization Tips to improve performance, lower resource usage, and keep file uploads running smoothly over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does WordPress say “Error writing file” when uploading images?

This usually happens due to incorrect folder permissions, ownership issues, low disk space, or server security restrictions blocking file writes.

Can plugins cause the error writing file issue?

Yes. Security, cache, or backup plugins can interfere with uploads. Temporarily disabling plugins can help identify conflicts.

Does this error affect SEO or site performance?

Indirectly, yes. If you cannot upload images or media, content publishing slows down, which can impact SEO and user experience.

Is this error common on shared hosting?

Very common. Shared hosting often has restrictive permissions and limited resources that trigger this issue.

Will reinstalling WordPress fix the error?

No. This is a server-level issue. Reinstalling WordPress rarely solves it unless corrupted folders are replaced.

Can low memory cause “Error writing file”?

Yes. Low PHP memory can interrupt file processing, leading to incomplete uploads and write failures.