Nowadays, WordPress is considered as an easiest and most popular open-source content management system to create your own business website or blog websites. A content management system is basically a tool that makes it easy to manage important aspects of your website like content without having knowledge of programming. WordPress covers more than 43% of the market of the industry of websites on the Internet.
WordPress users may encounter some common errors while using it. If you’re also one of them. You also may have encountered the “Destination Folder Already Exists” error while trying to install a theme or a plugin. This is one of the most common errors encountered on wordpress.
This error can be frustrating, especially if you’re not sure why it’s happening or how to tackle it. In this tutorial, we’ll explain what causes this error and provide step-by-step methods to resolve the “Destination Folder Already Exists” error.
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What is “Destination folder already exists” Error in wordpress?
It is one of the common errors occurring in wordpress during the installation of a new theme or plug in. “Installation Failed: Destination Folder Already Exists” error appears when WordPress detects a duplicate folder in your site’s directory. This error can arise due to various circumstances, but the method of troubleshooting is the same: delete the existing folder to proceed with the theme or plugin installation.
When installation of a plugin or theme fails, it leaves an empty destination folder behind. The same happens when an old plugin or theme’s folder isn’t removed properly. This empty folder prevents WordPress from completing the installation.
Reasons of “Destination Folder Already Exists”
Understanding the common reasons for encountering this error will help you to take some important steps to avoid the issue “Destination Folder Already Exists”. If you face this error, follow the troubleshooting steps provided in this tutorial. That will help you to quickly resolve the issue and get your site back online. Here are the several primary causes:
1. Previous Installations
If you have previously installed a theme or plugin and later you deleted them. Still the folder exists If the folder was not completely removed during the deletion of the theme or plugin , it can lead to the error when you try to install the theme or plugin again.
2. Incomplete Installations
Sometimes, an installation may be prevented due to various reasons such as server timeouts, connection problems, or browser issues. This can leave a partially created folder in wp-content directory. This can lead to showing the error message.
3. Manual Uploads
When you upload a theme or plugin manually using FTP or your control panel and the process is not completed correctly, it can result in creating a folder left behind with the same name. This can also interrupt installations.
4. File Permissions Problems
Incorrect file permission configurations on your WordPress files and folders can also stop WordPress from deleting or overwriting existing folders. This can lead to the “Destination Folder Already Exists” error.
5. Failed Uninstallation Process
It might be possible that the uninstallation process of themes or plugins might not fully complete, due to this it can leave behind its empty folder in the wp-content directory with the same name. This remaining empty folder causes installation errors during future installations of the same theme or plugin.
6. Duplicate Uploads
If you mistakenly upload the same theme or plugin more than once, No matter which way you used, it can create duplicate folders. WordPress then detects the existing folder and shows the error.
How to fix the “Destination Folder Already Exists” error?
The causes of this error may be several but the resolution method is the same in all situations that is deleting the duplicate folder which already existed with any of the reasons. Here we are going through two methods to fix the error “Destination Folder Already Exists”.
1. Resolving “Destination Folder Already Exists” error Using cPanel File Manager.
If you are using cPanel, you can access your WordPress files through File Manager.
- Navigate to the File Manager located on your cPanel dashboard.
- Go to the wp-content folder within your root directory (public_html).
- Open either the themes or plugins folder and find the folder that’s causing the error.
- Right-click on the folder named after the plugin or theme you want to install and click on Delete.
- Try reinstallation to check whether the error has been resolved.
2. Resolving “Destination Folder Already Exists” Using FTP Client
If your WordPress site is hosted on a VPS server, you can access the website files via an FTP client. Follow these steps to solve the “Destination Folder Already Exists” error.
- Establish an FTP connection to access the website’s server.
- Navigate to public_html and go to the wp-content.
- Go to the plugins or themes and locate the folder that’s causing the issue.
- Right-click on the folder named after the plugin or theme you want to install and click Delete.
- Try reinstallation to check whether the error has been resolved.
Best practices to prevent this error in future
Here are some best practices given for preventing the Error “Destination Folder Already Exists” in the Future. To avoid encountering this error in the future, it best to consider these tips:
1. Uninstall Properly
For the uninstallation process, always use the WordPress dashboard to uninstall themes and plugins. This ensures that their folders are properly removed.
2. Check Before Installing
First check if a folder with the same name already exists in the wp-content directory before installing a new theme or plugin,
3. Use Trusted Sources
Always use a trusted source for downloading themes and plugins to minimize the risk of incomplete or corrupt installations.
4. Use WordPress Management Services
Handling the wordpress errors may be a daunting task for users and it may distract business owners from their core business operations. Using our wordpress management services will handle all the issues related to wordpress A to Z. You can choose Supportfly for wordpress Management and Consulting Services for a better and smooth running of your wordpress website.
Why Choose Supportfly for WordPress Management Services?
- SupportFly is the most trusted wordpress management services provider worldwide committed to your success.
- Our services are customer-friendly and easy to understand. We utilize the most advanced technologies for each of our services with transparency.
- Your data is always secure & safeguarded with us. We also track what our employees do with your servers and data.
- Our dedicated team is working round the clock for support and customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
The “destination folder already exists” is a common error in WordPress, and it’s easy to fix. The “Installation Failed: Destination Folder Already Exists” error occurs when you try to install a plugin or theme. There’s no need to worry, just delete the old files and folders. Then you would be able to install your plugin or theme without any problems.To review, here are two methods we have explained. You can fix this error in WordPress either by deleting the existing folder using an FTP client or cPanel.
We hope this article has helped you to learn how to easily fix the “Destination folder already exists” error in WordPress. Nevertheless if you are facing this error feel free to reach us, our wordpress experts will surely help you resolve this error.
