Title: FTP Credentials needed and Server Error
Last modified: May 24, 2019

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# FTP Credentials needed and Server Error

 *  [DebT](https://wordpress.org/support/users/debbiet/)
 * (@debbiet)
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/ftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error/)
 * I tried to update this 10 year old site from WP4.9.5 to 5.2.1. First I got this
   window asking for FTP credentials. I did add them, but then got a Server Error.
 * [https://tejadadesign.com/images/UpdateWP.jpg](https://tejadadesign.com/images/UpdateWP.jpg)
 * [https://tejadadesign.com/images/ServerError.jpg](https://tejadadesign.com/images/ServerError.jpg)
 * Does anyone know what the FTP credentials thing is about? I’ve work on a lot 
   of WP sites, have not seen that with any other site. Is it because it is Windows
   hosting? Or is there something wrong with the site?
 * And the server error: Does that mean something is wrong on the hosting side of
   things? I also know it’s running PHP 5.6, is that the problem? The hosting company
   does not offer a higher version of PHP with this “legacy classic” hosting package.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/ftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error/#post-11570212)
 * You’ll get the prompt for FTP access if the PHP process is unable to write to
   the WP directory tree on the assumption that you have some FTP credentials that
   do have that access. If you don’t have FTP access you can tell WP about, then
   you’ll need to change the ownership of the files to match whatever you have for
   wp-content/uploads, as I’m pretty sure that PHP is able to write to that part
   of the tree.
 * If your host does not offer PHP 7, you should consider a change.
 *  Thread Starter [DebT](https://wordpress.org/support/users/debbiet/)
 * (@debbiet)
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/ftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error/#post-11570275)
 * Thank you. Not being very knowledgeable about PHP, I didn’t understand most of
   what you wrote. How do I “change the ownership of the files” ? That’s different
   than permissions? How do I find out what is set for wp-content/uploads so I can
   match?
 * The host does not offer PHP7 in the level of hosting the client has. I’m working
   on getting the client to agree to upgrade or move their hosting, and trying to
   do it with no downtime.
 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/ftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error/#post-11570279)
 * Ownership is different than permissions. If you were using Linux, I could answer
   most of your questions. As you’re using Windows, I don’t know.
 *  Thread Starter [DebT](https://wordpress.org/support/users/debbiet/)
 * (@debbiet)
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/ftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error/#post-11570281)
 * Ah, ok, thanks. They are “forced” to use Windows because of an ancient ASP program
   associated with the web site. If I can convince them to get rid of that, we could
   go with Linux.
 * I think I’ve reached a dead end.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘FTP Credentials needed and Server Error’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [DebT](https://wordpress.org/support/users/debbiet/)
 * Last activity: [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/ftp-credentials-needed-and-server-error/#post-11570281)
 * Status: not resolved

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