How to Fix “Missing a Temporary Folder” Error in WordPress

The “Missing a Temporary Folder” error is a frustrating WordPress issue that prevents you from uploading media, installing plugins, or updating themes. If you’ve ever seen an error like:

Unable to create directory wp-content/uploads/2026/09. Is its parent directory writable by the server?

you’re not alone – and fortunately, this one is usually quick to fix.

In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll walk you through why this error happens, what it means, and several step-by-step methods to resolve it using either FTP, cPanel, or assistance from your hosting provider.

📚 Table of Contents

❓ What Causes the “Missing a Temporary Folder” Error?

WordPress uses a temporary directory to manage uploads before they’re placed in the appropriate wp-content/uploads folder. If it can’t find or access that folder, uploads will fail.

The most common causes include:

  • Incorrect folder permissions in wp-content
  • Missing or corrupted php.ini file
  • Undefined or misconfigured upload_tmp_dir setting
  • Server misconfigurations, especially on shared hosting environments

🔐 Method 1: Check and Correct Folder Permissions

Improper file and folder permissions can prevent WordPress from accessing or creating temporary files. Here’s how to fix that:

  1. Connect to your site using FTP (e.g. FileZilla) or use your hosting control panel’s File Manager.
  2. Navigate to the wp-content directory.
  3. Right-click the folder and choose File Permissions (or “Change Permissions”).
  4. Set the value to 755 or 750, depending on your server setup.
  5. Check the box that says Recurse into subdirectories, and apply to directories only.
  6. Save and retry uploading a file.

Still seeing the error? Proceed to the next method.

⚙️ Method 2: Define upload_tmp_dir in wp-config.php

If PHP doesn’t know where to store temporary files, you can define a specific temp folder manually.

  1. Use FTP or File Manager to access your site root.
  2. Edit your wp-config.php file.
  3. Just before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */, add:
define('WP_TEMP_DIR', dirname(__FILE__) . '/wp-content/temp/');
  1. Now create a folder inside wp-content called temp.
  2. Set its permissions to 755.

This tells WordPress exactly where to temporarily store files during upload and installation processes.

📝 Method 3: Create or Repair the php.ini File

In some cases, a missing or misconfigured php.ini file is to blame. Here’s how to add or repair it:

  1. Create a new text file called php.ini on your local computer.
  2. Add the following lines:
upload_tmp_dir = /tmp
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
  1. Upload this file to your website’s root directory using FTP or File Manager.
  2. Alternatively, place it inside the public_html or wp-admin directory if needed.
  3. Test by uploading a file or installing a plugin.

Note: Some hosting providers may restrict custom php.ini overrides – if this method doesn’t work, move on to the next one.

☎️ Method 4: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact your host’s technical support team.

Let them know you’re encountering a “Missing a Temporary Folder” error and that you’ve already tried setting permissions and defining the upload path. They may need to adjust your server’s global php.ini settings or correct permissions at the server level.

If you’re using Pressillion, you can contact our support team and we’ll fix this for you.

❓ FAQ

What is the default PHP temporary directory?
On most Linux-based servers, it’s /tmp. If this path doesn’t exist or is inaccessible, uploads fail.

Will this error affect plugin or theme updates?
Yes – if WordPress can’t write to a temporary folder, updates and installations will fail.

Can I fix this without FTP access?
If your host offers cPanel or a similar File Manager, you can use that instead of FTP.

🔗 Sources

 
 

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