Chris Schutte

September 28, 2022

How To Fix “Upload: Failed To Write File to Disk” Error in WordPress

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Website owners are always looking for ways to improve their websites. Sometimes this means making minor tweaks, and sometimes it means overhauling the entire website.

No matter what your website needs, it’s essential to make sure you’re taking the time to fix any errors that might prevent your website from running smoothly. One such error is the “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error in WordPress.

This guide will show you how to fix this error quickly and easily. So whether your website is brand new or you’ve been running it for years, follow these simple steps and get back to business as usual.

Why Does This Happen?

There are a few reasons why this error might occur. The most common cause is that the website owner doesn’t have permission to upload files to their website. This can happen for several reasons, but the most common is that the website is hosted on a shared server.

If you’re hosting your website on a shared server, your hosting company has likely set strict limits on what you can and cannot do with your website. This includes limiting the amount of disk space available for file storage.

When you try uploading a file to your website, the system checks to see if you have enough disk space. If you don’t, the system returns an error message and prevents the file from being uploaded.

As a result, you might get either of these error messages:

  • WordPress has failed to upload due to an error was unable to write the file to the disk
  • WordPress upload failed to write to disk
  • Unable to create directory wp-content/uploads/2016/03. Is its parent directory writable by the server

Fix “Upload: Failed To Write File to Disk” Error

Fixing this error can be deceptively challenging, especially for website owners who are still new to the game. However, solving this issue is pretty straightforward.

Now that we’ve diagnosed the most likely issue for this error, here are three ways that you can fix it:

Method 1: Change the File Permissions of Your Uploads Directory

This method is the easiest way to fix this issue. All you need to do is change the file permissions of your website’s uploads directory.

  1. Firstly, you’ll need to connect to your website using an FTP client. Once you’re connected, navigate to the /wp-content/uploads/ directory.
  2. Once you’re in the uploads directory, right-click on the folder and select “Change Permissions.” A new window will pop up.
  3. In the “Permissions” column, ensure that the number next to “Owner” is set to 755. This will give you full read, write, and execute permissions for the directory.
  4. If the number is anything other than 755, change it and then click on the “Recurse into subdirectories” checkbox. This will apply permissions to all files and folders inside the directory.
  5. Once you’ve done this, click the “OK” button, and the changes will be saved.

There are several FTP clients that website owners can use. These clients help website owners to fix the “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error in WordPress. The most popular FTP clients are FileZilla, Cyberduck, Transmit, Fetch, and CuteFTP.

Each client has its own set of pros and cons. For example, Filezilla is free and easy to use but can be slow when transferring files. Cyberduck is also free and easy to use, but it doesn’t have a built-in file editor like Filezilla. Transmit is very fast when transferring files, but it’s expensive compared to other options.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which FTP client is best for your needs.

If you are having trouble fixing the “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error, you can work with a website care service to do it for you. Website care services like Launch Digital can help you fix this error and other website issues quickly and easily.

Method 2: Empty the WordPress Temporary Folder

The next method is a bit more technical, but it’s still relatively easy. This method requires you to empty the WordPress temporary folder.

  1. To do this, you’ll need to connect to your website using an FTP client.
  2. Once you’re connected, navigate to the /wp-content/ directory.
  3. Inside the /wp-content/ directory, you should see a folder called “tmp.”
    Enter that folder and delete all of the files inside of it.
  4. Once you’ve done this, try uploading a file again and see if the error’s resolved.

If you’re struggling with this problem, enlisting the aid of a website maintenance provider like Launch Digital is a fast and straightforward solution.

Method 3: Upgrade Your WordPress Hosting Plan

If you’re still having trouble fixing the “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error, you may need to upgrade your WordPress hosting plan.

Some website owners try to save money using the cheapest WordPress hosting plan. However, this can cause problems down the road.

WordPress is a resource-intensive platform that requires a certain amount of resources to run smoothly. As a result, your website will likely run into problems if you’re using a cheap hosting plan that doesn’t provide enough resources.

Upgrading your WordPress hosting plan is easy to fix the “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error. By upgrading, you’ll ensure that your website has enough resources to run smoothly and avoid errors like this in the future.

Contact your hosting provider to upgrade your WordPress hosting plan and let them know you need to upgrade. They’ll be able to help you select the right plan for your website’s needs.

Fix Your WordPress Errors With Launch Digital

If you’re having trouble fixing the “Upload: Failed to Write File to Disk” Error in WordPress, we can help.

At Launch Digital, we specialize in helping website owners fix errors and keep their websites running smoothly.

We understand how frustrating it can be when your website is down or not working correctly. That’s why we offer a wide range of website care plans and services that can help you fix errors, improve website performance, and more. As a result, we’re the foremost website maintenance and care solution in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Contact us today to learn more about our services or get started. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and help you get started.

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