Title: Update Error:
Last modified: December 2, 2016

---

# Update Error:

 *  [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * (@acleanplate)
 * [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/)
 * Here is the error I receive when I try to update a plugin or theme:
 * > Update Failed: The update cannot be installed because we will be unable to 
   > copy some files. This is usually due to inconsistent file permissions.
 * I have done a manual reinstall of WordPress and changed all of my folder permissions
   to 775 to no effect. I think the problem might have started when I hooked up 
   Vaultpress via SSH, but that’s just my best guess, and removing Vaultpress hasn’t
   helped, either. Neither has my host. One of the suggestions I’ve come across 
   in my search is to use the following command to change file ownership:
 * > sudo chown -R username:group .
 * However, I have no idea how to find the correct username or group. The command“
   cat /etc/group” was suggested, but shows dozens of options. Can anyone explain
   the username:group command in greater detail to help me narrow it down, or offer
   another possible solution?
 * Thank you so much!

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8507883)
 * see [https://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php#Override_of_default_file_permissions](https://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php#Override_of_default_file_permissions)
   and enable FS_DIRECT
 *  Thread Starter [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * (@acleanplate)
 * [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8508439)
 * So, if I have understood correctly, this is supposed to be added to wp-config:
 * > define(‘FS_METHOD’,’direct’);
   >  define( ‘FS_CHMOD_DIR’, ( 0755 & ~ umask() ));
   > define( ‘FS_CHMOD_FILE’, ( 0644 & ~ umask() ) );
 * However, it didn’t work. Changing WordPress file permissions to 777 seems to 
   work, but I understand that’s not something you want to leave in effect long-
   term, so I reset them all to default. Is there a particular WP file that might
   cause this issue?
 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [9 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8508453)
 * 777 is insecure and should not be used. All you need is the first line FS_METHOD.
   Files and directories should be owned by the userid of your web server/php process.
 *  Thread Starter [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * (@acleanplate)
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512253)
 * Ok, I added “define(‘FS_METHOD’, ‘direct’);” to wp-config, but it didn’t work.
   I’m still getting the update error.
 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512497)
 * What is the user ID under which your web server and PHP process(es) run?
 *  Thread Starter [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * (@acleanplate)
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512689)
 * I don’t know. I found guides to put “lsof -i”, “cat /etc/group”, or “cat /etc/
   passwd” into SSH to show the list, but don’t know how to tell which one is/should
   be the right one. My host couldn’t tell me. www-data and apache seem to be common
   ones, but neither shows up on my list.
 * I appreciate all of your help, Steve!
 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512696)
 * `ps -ef |grep httpd` or `ps -ef |grep apache` should give you the ID
    -  This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/).
 *  Thread Starter [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * (@acleanplate)
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512806)
 * Thanks! Looks like ‘nobody’. ‘Root’ also appears in the list, but only once.
 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512815)
 * root is for the “base” httpd process. all it does is spin off web processes as
   needed.
 *  Thread Starter [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * (@acleanplate)
 * [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512841)
 * Okay, so “nobody” then. Now that I’ve got this information, what do I do with
   it?

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

The topic ‘Update Error:’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [failed-update](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/failed-update/)
 * [ownership](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/ownership/)
 * [permissions](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/permissions/)
 * [update error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/update-error/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 10 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [ACleanPlate](https://wordpress.org/support/users/acleanplate/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/update-error-48/#post-8512841)
 * Status: not resolved

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