Introduction
Have you encountered the error message “File is missing. Verify the upload” while trying to upload a theme or a plugin in WordPress? It is frustrating because it’s quite common—but don’t worry, I’m here to help you.
This specific issue can arise due to:
- Bad WordPress Folder Permissions
- The ZIP file order is incorrect (e.g a collection of folders inside other folders)
In this concise tutorial, you will learn how to:
- Repair the ZIP file structure
- Adjust folder permissions properly
- Prevent issues related to uploads and size restrictions
You’ll no longer be bothered by that annoying popup. Let’s dive right into it!
Step 1
Let’s confront the challenge head on — receiving the “error upload failed” notification on WordPress is a small nightmare to deal with. It generally goes as follows:
“The uploaded file could not be moved to wp-content/uploads/…”
From here, we can gather two conclusions: your data did arrive at the server and it’s only that WordPress cannot transfer it into uploads directory. The cause behind this reason is more often than not incorrect folder permissions.
This means the server user, which can be any of these (www-data, daemon, IUSR), does not have write privileges set for that specific folder path.
🔍 How to Pinpoint the Problem
Watch the Error Message Carefully
Focus on the error message because it contains relevant information needed for diagnosing particular problems regarding folder settings or misplaced files.
Try Uploading a Test File
Go to your dashboard and navigate towards Media → Add New. Make an attempt to upload something simple such as a tiny image. Monitor if you receive this error again, and take note of what location it mentions.
Note What Changes, What Doesn’t
If it consistently manifests in the same location over time, then in all likelihood there is an issue with permission settings for that upload path configuration.
Review Upload Path Configurations
Navigate to Settings → Media or check for upload_path in wp_options. If there is a value set and the path is either missing or pointing to somewhere else, you can correct it or leave it blank to default to wp-content/uploads .
If the problem is reproducible, all that is left to restoring your ability to upload files seamlessly are adjusting file permissions — so let’s get started!
Fixing Permissions in WordPress Uploads Folder
Alright, you’ve diagnosed the issue and confirmed the wrong permissions are hindering uploads. Let’s go for a straightforward resolution:
✅ Importance of This
That specific error—“The uploaded file could not be moved to wp-content/uploads/…”—typically indicates that your server web user (such as www-data or apache) does not have sufficient permissions to add files to the relevant folder.
🖥️ Server Access
You need access to your server through SSH, cPanel, or FTP:
SSH: Within Terminal or PuTTY, log in as normal.
cPanel/FileManager: Access through file manager.
FTP: Through FileZilla and similar tools.
⚙️ Command Line Permission Fixes
Now do the following:
Identify your WordPress directory. It may be in /var/www/html/ or /usr/share/nginx/html/.
Change ownership to permit upload access by web server:
“`bash
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/uploads
Make sure to replace `/path/to/wordpress/` with your actual path.
Set secure permissions.
“`bash
sudo find /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/uploads -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
sudo find /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/uploads -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
The commands allow secure access while maintaining security from unwanted files being opened.
🧩 Permission Adjustments through Cpanel or FTP
No SSH? No worries.
In cPanel go to File Manager → right click on uploads → select Change Permissions→ set folders: 755 and files: 644.
In FTP, navigate to uploads directory, select “File permissions…”, input 755 and apply permissions recursively to directories. Do the same for files as 644.
Focus Points Checklist
Change owner to www-data (or your server user)
Set folders permissions to 755
Set files permissions to 644
What Should I Do Next?
Attempt uploading your test file once more. If it succeeds—that’s great! If it continues to error out, then:
Verify the upload path in WordPress settings one more time.
Remove clear monthly folders (they can get stuck).
Make sure your server user isn’t different (e.g., nobody or IUSR on Windows).
Contact me when you are ready so we can resolve file-structure concerns, or plugin conflicts next!
Retesting & Confirming the Fix ✅
After resetting permissions, it’s time for the all-important test:
🔁 1. Reproduce the Upload Process
Return to Media → Add New on your WordPress dashboard.
Add a small test file (e.g., a JPG or PNG)
Result A: The system uploads the file successfully? Wonderful! That means the permissions fix worked.
Result B: If you still see the “could not be moved…” error, let us investigate further as to why.
🛠️ 2. If the Error Persists
Try these steps:
Check upload path once more:
Go to Settings → Media and check if either “Upload Path” is empty or assigned with wp-content/uploads.
Check ownership and permissions:
Ensure that owner of the webserver user (www-data) with directories set at 755 and files at 644.
Consult your hosting provider:
Some hosting setups may block folder writes. Share what you have tried, then inquire about server-sided restrictions on file uploads .
Think about unique cases:
Verifying correct users in place are critical for Windows hosts utilizing different server users like nobody or IUSR.
📚 3. Subscribe for More About Permissions
General recommendations coming from WordPress.org state:
Folders: 755
Files: 644
These figures represent ideal zeros that preserve core operations alongside security
🎯 Final Check
✅ Permissions set
✅ Ownership correct
✅ Upload path verified
✅ Hosting environment checked
If all upload settings have been verified yet uploads are still failing, try re-uploading using FTP or consider using plugins like All-in-One WP Security which can automatically adjust permission errors.
✓ Conclusion
You have now learned how to:
Recognize a permissions error
Correct ownership and permissions for uploads
Confirm the issue has been resolved
By following these steps, your WordPress site will be able to upload media files without issues. If you encountered other errors such as file structure or server size limits, just let me know. I can assist with those too.
