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WordPress How to Make a Website with WordPress Plugin Best Practices Common WordPress Plugins

Posted by Bryan Wiedeman
Bryan Wiedeman
10,203 Points

changed permissions for /wp-content/plugins, now site doesn't load

i was adding a large plugin, when i went to upload plugin, the file was too big, so I figured I would ftp it to /wp-content/plugins/, but I couldn't transfer it because of permissions, so I went into my server and chmod 777 'ed /wp-content/plugins/ and transferred the plugin. Well, I realized i shouldn't have been transferring the zip file anyway, so I deleted that, but now when I try to go to my site I get a 500 error.

cameroneckelberry2
cameroneckelberry2
8,701 Points

It's better to set those files to 755 - as an aside. Can you reach WP-Admin? Is it a 500 error or blank screen? You can try Opening the Wp-config file via FTP and adding this code and refreshing to see if it can pinpoint the problem: 

define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
cameroneckelberry2
cameroneckelberry2
8,701 Points

This is also a great resource, I've debugged a few sites using these TIPs. http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-fix-the-internal-server-error-in-wordpress/

1 Answer

Sue Dough
Sue Dough
35,800 Points
Sue Dough
Sue Dough
35,800 Points

Permissions had nothing to do with this problem. It is your php.ini max upload settings.

First change your permissions back to normal. Run this in wp-content/

find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

Then you need to adjust your php.ini settings . Adjust accordingly to your needs. If you do not have access to php.ini file then just ask your host.

memory_limit = 32M
upload_max_filesize = 32M
post_max_size = 32M
max_execution_time = 3000
Bryan Wiedeman
Bryan Wiedeman
10,203 Points

where is php.ini in the wordpress folder system?

and if you happen to know, how can I change permission so from filezilla I can transfer a file from the server to my local system, then transfer it back? Right now I can download a file from the server, but I don't have permissions to upload it back.

Sue Dough
Sue Dough
35,800 Points
Sue Dough
Sue Dough
35,800 Points

Go into your theme and add a test.php and put the following line of code in

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Now go access that

http://example.com/wp-content/themes/YOURTHEMENAME/test.php

It will reveal the location of php.ini on your server will be located near the top. Control F to use the find tool and just search php.ini .

DELETE AFTER

Or go into the shell and 

php --ini

Changing permissions should be done through SSH and by typing those commands I listed above in the appropiate folder. Make sure your user and group settings are correct as well. I don't have experience changing server permissions with Filezilla. However looks like there is some ways to do it. www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-change-file-permissions-using-filezilla-on-.html .