Title: Core or Plugin update: "Could not create directory.: /httpdocs" Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Core or Plugin update: "Could not create directory.: /httpdocs" * Resolved [TroyMcGinnis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/troymcginnis/) * (@troymcginnis) * [12 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/) * Hi Guys, * I’ve been searching for the solution to this for a while and now I’m looking here to get some help. The issue I’m having is that on one of the WordPress sites that I manage, I have been receiving the following message when attempting to upgrade the Core WordPress files or any of my Plugins: * ``` Downloading update from http://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.5.2-partial-1.zip… Unpacking the update… Could not create directory.: /httpdocs Installation Failed ``` * I have tried running chmod 777 on the wp-content directory as well as the root public_html directory (which I know is not at all secure). This is the ONLY site that has been giving me issues out of approximately 20 sites. * The servers are all VPS servers running the latest distro of CentOS with Apache, MySQL and the latest version of PHP. * Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! * -T Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 26 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/page/2/?output_format=md) * [Jarret](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jarretc/) * (@jarretc) * [12 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908566) * Odd that it is trying to create /httpdocs when that is a directory that usually contains all of your site’s files. Do you have your WP install setup in any special way that would cause it to try to create that directory? * Usually when WP is doing an upgrade it will place files into /wp-content/upgrade * Thread Starter [TroyMcGinnis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/troymcginnis/) * (@troymcginnis) * [12 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908579) * Jarret, no special setup with this install of WP. I have read lots of people mentioning that they were receiving errors that would state something like… * `Could not create directory.: /httpdocs/wp-content/plugins/...` * Not sure why its attempting to create the root html directory either. It’s leaving me stumped. * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908812) * Do you have any update on this topic? I have the exactly the same problem. It worked fine before, but now it gives me this error. * Is it maybe something server-related? * Thread Starter [TroyMcGinnis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/troymcginnis/) * (@troymcginnis) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908813) * I have not found a solution to this yet. The WordPress install has just moved to a new server and the issue is persisting. * I’m considering just doing a manual update but would really like to be able to get the auto updates working. * Anyone else have any thoughts on this? * Thread Starter [TroyMcGinnis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/troymcginnis/) * (@troymcginnis) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908814) * It looks like this issue is actually occurring for the core update as well as for the plugins ([http://cl.ly/image/292R2c37152y](http://cl.ly/image/292R2c37152y)). It could be a server issue, but I’m not sure what. * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908815) * Any difference is that I don’t have that trailing / before httpdocs * ‘Downloading update from [http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/akismet.2.5.9.zip…](http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/akismet.2.5.9.zip…) * Unpacking the update… * Could not create directory. httpdocs’ * I’m now trying to find out what I changed lately… it’s bin a while though since anything changed. * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908816) * Don’t know if this helps, but when I change the address in wp-config, it creates the new folders to store the upgrade.. for example, when I add system to the address as shown below, it creates nicely new folders and stores the upgrade files in there. ‘define(‘FTP_BASE’, ‘httpdocs/system/’); define(‘FTP_CONTENT_DIR’,‘ httpdocs/system/wp-content/’); define(‘FTP_PLUGIN_DIR ‘, ‘httpdocs/system/wp- content/plugins/’);’ * The installation error is then as follows: ‘Downloading update from [http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/akismet.2.5.9.zip…](http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/akismet.2.5.9.zip…) Unpacking the update… Installing the latest version… Removing the old version of the plugin… Could not remove the old plugin. Plugin update failed.’ * but as soon as I change it back it gives problems again.. * Thread Starter [TroyMcGinnis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/troymcginnis/) * (@troymcginnis) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908817) * Looks like you’re getting closer. * That last error you’re getting looks like a permissions issue. Try running chmod 777 on the wp-content directory then try the upgrade again. Make sure to change your permissions back afterward. * I’ll try defining the those FTP variables and post back here. * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908818) * problem remains the same. No difference * [shamratdewan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shamratdewan/) * (@shamratdewan) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908819) * usually it happens for write permission for apache on your server. can you give apache write permission as much as root on your server? * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908820) * I don’t know, what is the difference? I use parallels panel to change the chmod permisions… * [shamratdewan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shamratdewan/) * (@shamratdewan) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908821) * for parallels the user name is something like “pcl” or close to it. more effective is to use ssh or rdp * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908822) * I’m sorry, but could you explain (maybe step-by-step)what I need to do. I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. thanks for you help! * [shamratdewan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shamratdewan/) * (@shamratdewan) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908823) * How many sites you have in your server? are all of them got the same problem? if not then obviously it wount be a server issue. However, to give it a try… First take backup as if you don’t have backup so many thing happens. then may be follow this tutorials and give a try. [http://ideasandpixels.com/mediatemple-dv-server-how-to-change-ssh-write-permissions](http://ideasandpixels.com/mediatemple-dv-server-how-to-change-ssh-write-permissions) * [puma85](https://wordpress.org/support/users/puma85/) * (@puma85) * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/#post-3908824) * Solved!! * I found this link: [http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/update-wordpress-without-ftp/](http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/update-wordpress-without-ftp/) * And after changing the FS_method to direct, it worked perfectly!! 😀 Basically add this line to your wp-config.php file: ‘define(‘FS_METHOD’,’direct’);’ * good luck! Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 26 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Core or Plugin update: "Could not create directory.: /httpdocs"’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [failed upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/failed-upgrade/) * [upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrade/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 26 replies * 12 participants * Last reply from: [ndundupan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ndundupan/) * Last activity: [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/core-or-plugin-update-could-not-create-directory-httpdocs/page/2/#post-3908865) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics