There are times when, depending on the specific thing you are doing, installing a certain plugin or modifying your theme CSS for instance, you need to change the file permission to allow you to edit or write to the file. In simple term, you need to make the file writable before you could make any changes to it.
When you are using the built-in Theme Editor from your Admin dashboard and you see a note at the bottom of the editor that says “If this file was writable you could edit it”, chances are you need to set the permission to writable before you could edit it.
How do you change the file permission?
This tutorial will show you the easiest way to change the file permission – or in technical term, to CHMOD (change the mode) the file to 666, using either desktop FileZilla or web-based FireFTP. Two of the most popular FTP clients for both PC and Mac users. Are they not?
Let’s chmod the file
1. Login to your FTP client
2. Browse to wp-content/themes/(your theme folder)/
3. Choose the file you what to change its permission from the list
FileZilla
4. Right-click on the file and choose File Attributes
FireFTP
4. Right-click on the file and choose Properties
5. The pop-up box with the file permission details will appear.
6. If you are the least bit unsure, don’t worry about the check boxes. Just delete and re-enter the numeric value. In this case, it’s 666 and click OK.
That’s it. You are done.
If you are using any other FTP clients, the process of changing the file permission maybe slightly different from the one above. However, when you understand the basic process, it’s not going to be much of a difficulty. What’s your say? Do I miss any point here?
Update: CHMOD is only relevant for Unix server platforms i.e. those running Apache web server. Although most WordPress are likely to be installed on this platform, it can be installed on a Windows server where these file permissions don’t exist and won’t take effect if you try and change permissions via an FTP client. If the problem persist, contact your hosting technical support [Updated by David]
Needless to say if you are planning to host your WordPress, opt for Linux server platform with Apache . Period.
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{ 7 comments }
I would just add that CHMOD is only relevant for Unix server platforms i.e. those running Apache web server. Although most installs of WordPress are likely to be on this platform, it can be installed on a Windows server where these file permissions don’t exist and won’t take effect if you try and change permissions via an FTP client. This is because Windows uses IIS (Internet Information Services) as its web server and deals with permissions slightly differently.
If you are having problems with getting a plugin working of adjusting permissions on Windows hosting I would suggest contacting your hosting technical support.
David, I appreciate your sharing the info and highlighting the common problem of changing file permission on Window server.
It’s kind of you to compensate on my weakness. I admit this is not my area expertise as such I do not post the solution to it.
every webmaster knows how to change CHMOD on web server by using any ftp client software but they don’t know how to change CHMOD in a PC… if some one knows how to change CHMOD on a PC do tell me, well I am searching for it when I got it I will post here
Cheers
Shaz3e´s lastest post..Is it the end of the internet as we speak ?
Why I can’t change permission on windows hosting?
here’s error message:
500 ‘SITE CHMOD 0666 inove’: command not understood
: /mysite.com/wp-content/themes/0666 inove
I follow your instructions in FireFTP and get the following error????
500 ‘SITE CHMOD 0646 files’: command not understood
: /httpdocs/drupal2/sites/default/0646 files
Thank you for the guide to changing file permissions in WP. Very useful information and a great ongoing source. Regards Steven
Great guide, i just change file permission for upload folder to 777 :)