How To Fix “Failed To Write File To Disk” Error In WordPress

Have you ever encountered with “failed to write file to disk” error while uploading an image or installation a plugin?

While handling a WordPress website, such types of errors are common which may freak you out. For beginners, it can be a matter of worrying.

It happens due to the wrong file and folder  permissions or maybe the disk size of your web hosting disk space is full.

In this tutorial, you will learn the ways to fix failed to write file to disk error in WordPress.

Change File Permissions Using The cPanel

You can change it from the web hosting account. There are a few steps to follow.

Step 1:- Login and go to file manager.

Step 2:- Open the public_html or what we call the root directory and search for the wp-content folder which consists the whole content you upload.

Step 3:- Right-click on the folder and change “file permissions”. It will show a popup in which you have to fill “755” as the file permission number.

Save it and you’re done.

Sometimes, it may not solve the problem because you have only changed the permissions of the folder not for the files present inside it.

To do that, you have to use your FTP account.

Do you know how to connect to Filezilla server with the FTP server? You should know that Filezilla is the most used FTP software.

After connecting, you need to open the public_html folder and search the same “wp-content” folder.

Right-clickk and choose the change the file permissions. The biggest benefit of using the FTP is that you can change both the files and folder permissions.

You will see a checkbox “Recurse into subdirectories”. Check it and all the three radio buttons below it will be available to function.

For file permissions, you can choose the second radio button or anything shows for the files.

Instead of 755, you have to fill 644 for all the files.

After filling the permissions, save the settings. You have successfully changed the files and folder permissions. Your problem may get solved.

If you still face the same problem then you have to talk to your web hosting customer support. It’s because a few web hostings don’t allow the users to have an access to a special file.

For every upload, there is a temporary file. Whenever you upload any file, your web hosting stores it in this file and if this file is full, you will get failed to write file to disk error.

The errors may be of different types but all related to the file upload.

  • You’re unable to create directory wp-content/uploads/2017/03
  • WordPress has failed to write to the disk

Ask the customer support to take care of it and get your problem solved.

I hope You Can Easily Fix “Failed To Write File To Disk” Error.

The above-mentioned are the solutions. As mentioned earlier, this may vary with the web hosting you’re using. In most of the cases, the problem gets solved with the proper file permissions.

Have you ever noticed any errors in WordPress? What are the things you should take care of? It’s always recommended to ask to a professional before messing with the WordPress files.

Can you now fix failed to write file to disk error in WordPress? If you have any question, feel free to drop a comment.

You can also connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

by Ravi Chahar

A WordPress Professional and the LinkedIn Influencer. A coder by passion and a blogger by choice. WordPress theme development is his forte. He is your WordPress guy who will teach you how to solve WordPress errors, WordPress security issues, design issues and what not.

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5 comments

  1. Nice article Ravi on changing WordPress file and folder permissions. It really is useful, especially for WordPress newbies who just started out.

    Keep up the good work. Thanks ?

    1. Hey Rodney,

      I am glad you could relate to it. Keeping the right permissions is the only solution to such errors. Sometimes you may in need to contact your web hosting for further assistance.
      Thanks for stopping by.
      ~Ravi

      1. Yes. That’s the best thing to do, contact the host if for some reason one needs assistance.

        Thanks also. I enjoy learning new things daily.

        Keep up the good work.

  2. Hi Ravi,

    Thanks so much for showing us how to fix this error. Thankfully, I haven’t had this problem occur but I’m saving your post to use as a reference if ever I do. ?

    Thanks for sharing Ravi. You can bet I’ve already passed this along!

    Cori

    1. Hey Cori,

      It happens when you cross the execution time limit set by your web hosting. To avoid the further inconvenience, you get an error to try again. It can be increased either by increase the limit yourself or asking your web hosting customer support.

      Thanks for stopping by.
      Enjoy your day.
      ~Ravi

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