Fix Cannot Upload Media via WordPress Uploader or Update Plugins

The Fix for we cannot upload media via WordPress Uploader or Update Plugins even after running command to recursively chmod to 777 or equivalent action via FTPis one of the most wanted fix. Often for these reasons, the user can not activate, unzip or automatically update the WordPress Plugins. Without any change, this Cannot Upload Media in WordPress can never arise. There are many things to know and then you can proceed fix. Running something blindly even from SFTP or FTP software is not recommended and can end up with getting a hacked website. Cannot Upload Media via WordPress Uploader is just a non-informative debug information of complex UNIX Server security mechanism in backend to prevent execution of files – this is one of the basic reason behind why UNIX, in 40 years has very less number of Virus, most are malwares and thats too; usually affect certain folders only.

Fix Cannot Upload Media via WordPress Uploader or Update Plugins Appears Usually After Changing the Server or Upgrading WordPress!

You can see and play with a thing here :

Please read the documentation on WordPress on recommended CHMOD values. Also, we published the bare minimum details of chmod for an average user. There are another two parts : CHMOD and CHOWN for WordPress are explained again here.

Another unwritten thing is –chgrp– autocorrect is too bad, it is trying to become chirp. Change Group is CH GRP. Run man (for manual) for full details :

We are taking that, you have upgraded to OS X or any GNU/Linux from Microsoft Windows. Using that living malware Microsoft Windows you will learn nothing about computing and everyday these kind errors will disturb you. These are basically found from day to day experiences while working on localhost.

Fix for Cannot Upload Media via WordPress Uploader is not CHMOD to 0777

Suicide is a crime, because you can not inflict injury even on you! Anyway, the issue either happens either due to two reasons :

Change in Group ownership – Apache2 is usually our Server Software, sometimes Nginx; the username of Apache2 or Nginx is commonly www-data – nowadays almost always it is www-data for most web server softwares. Actually we need to recursively change the group permission and file ownership :

Do not run these commands without minimum understanding. CHMOD, obviously need not to be more than 0755 for Apache2 (or rather www-data) for avoiding Cannot Upload Media via WordPress Uploader issue. Maximu of 0775 is required for few files. Also, adding yourusername as shell user into the www-data group, and adding www-data group into the psaserv group can solve the ownership issue.

These change or conflict happens if there is change in Linux Server, any distribution upgrade or upgrade of WordPress (should affect good number of files).

If you are too much abnormal (but common) errors; like challenged by a FTP login screen, add this to your WordPress wp-config.php file :

Keep in mind – direct FS_METHOD is a quick fix which can deliver insecurity in case Plugins are not safe, you must discover the reason of error.