Title: Problem upgrading WordPress with custom directory structure
Last modified: December 12, 2019

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# Problem upgrading WordPress with custom directory structure

 *  [apedog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apedog/)
 * (@apedog)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-upgrading-wordpress-with-custom-directory-structure/)
 * On my local development machine I have the following folder structure:
 *     ```
       main_home
       |-wordpress (clone of github/wordpress/wordpress)
       |   |-wp-admin
       |   |-wp-includes
       |
       |-wp_content (a custom directory with all my plugins and themes)
           |-themes
           |-plugins
       ```
   
 * I have the following lines in wp-config
 *     ```
       define( 'WP_CONTENT_DIR', dirname(ABSPATH) . '/wp-content' );
       define( 'WP_CONTENT_URL', WP_HOME . '/wp-content' );
       ```
   
 * The `wordpress` folder is a clone of `https://github.com/WordPress/WordPress/`
   which I use to switch WordPress versions for testing. ie. checkout v5.3 or 5.2.4
   or 5.0.7 etc.
 * Without the custom WP_CONTENT_DIR defines I get the expected `Database Update
   Required` message on `/wp-admin/upgrade.php` page whenever I checkout different
   WordPress versions.
 * However with my custom WP_CONTENT_DIR config I get the following message: `The
   site is experiencing technical difficulties.` on the redirect to `/wp-admin/upgrade.
   php` page. With no recourse other than commenting out the defines, updating the
   database, and then reinstalling my custom content dir.
 * I don’t know if this is a support issue. Or if it’s a bug and I should open a
   ticket for this.

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

 *  Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/)
 * (@bcworkz)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-upgrading-wordpress-with-custom-directory-structure/#post-12232714)
 * `WP_HOME` is not yet defined in wp-config.php. Since WP rarely uses the URL, 
   the issue doesn’t show itself much. Define the URL without using WP constants.
 *  Thread Starter [apedog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apedog/)
 * (@apedog)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-upgrading-wordpress-with-custom-directory-structure/#post-12232991)
 * [@bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/) Thank you but that’s
   not it.
    I have both `WP_SITEURL` and `WP_HOME` defined in my wp-config.php. 
   Right before they’re used in defining `WP_CONTENT_DIR`. Nonetheless I just tested
   this with a full hardcoded url – and I get the same issue.
 * PS. I might have failed to mention this in my initial post, but the issue only
   arises when trying to access `/wp-admin/` pages/url’s. I get redirected to `/
   wp-admin/upgrade.php?_wp_http_referer=%2Fwp-admin%2F` with the error message.
   
   The front-end loads just fine.
 * PPS. When switching WordPress to 5.0.x or 5.1.x I don’t even get the `technical
   difficulties` message. I just get `This page isn’t working - HTTP ERROR 500` 
   from the browser.
 * In all cases commenting out the `WP_CONTENT_` defines solves the issue.
 *  Thread Starter [apedog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apedog/)
 * (@apedog)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-upgrading-wordpress-with-custom-directory-structure/#post-12233006)
 * Ok,
    I just tried this with an empty custom wp-content folder – and the issue
   does not arise. So I’m assuming it’s one of the plugins interfering.
 * Investigating further.
 *  Thread Starter [apedog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apedog/)
 * (@apedog)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-upgrading-wordpress-with-custom-directory-structure/#post-12233099)
 * SOLVED
 * It was a problem with an mu-plugin `https://github.com/lkwdwrd/wp-muplugin-loader`
   used to load other mu-plugins installed via composer (ie. in sub-folders).
    It
   does not run on `WP_INSTALLING`.

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

The topic ‘Problem upgrading WordPress with custom directory structure’ is closed
to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [apedog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apedog/)
 * Last activity: [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-upgrading-wordpress-with-custom-directory-structure/#post-12233099)
 * Status: not resolved

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