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How to Fix Destination Folder Already Exists Error in WordPress

Destination Folder Already Exists

Got the Destination folder already exists WordPress error? Don’t worry, even though it looks like you’ve overwritten some folders with the same name. WordPress is designed well and will abort the operation to prevent damage. It will also notify you of the reason the error occurred in the first place. In almost all cases, this occurs during a WordPress theme or plugin installation. The message details and when it occurs should be enough to point you in the right direction as to which folder is the culprit. Here’s how to fix Destination folder already exists error in WordPress.

What to do when a WordPress plugin caused the error?

If the error message didn’t specify or if it’s been a while, start with the most recent plugin you installed. If it did, simply delete that plugin. You have two options:

  1. Delete the plugin using the WordPress Admin Section. Follow the same steps you did when installing a WordPress plugin.
    1. This time the Deactivate option will be available instead of Activate on the Plugins page.
    2. Click on it, then click on Delete.
  2. Remove the plugin via File Manager in your cPanel or FTP Client. If you need a reminder, here’s a guide to access your WordPress website via FTP.
    1. Find the problematic plugin insde the public_html/wp-content/plugins/.
      public_html       might also be titled root, www, or have the name of your website without hyphens.
    2. Click to select the folder with the name of the plugin.
    3. Click on Delete in the menu above.

Now that the conflict is gone, feel free to install the plugin again. It up to personal preference whether you do it via WordPress directly, or, if you picked the second option, install a WordPress plugin via FTP while you’re logged in.

Did the error occur during a WordPress theme installation?

We hope you were smart and installed a WordPress child theme that you later edited. In that case, simply go ahead and delete the base WordPress theme, then install it again. But what if the child theme itself is giving you problems, or a certain folder inside it? This requires troubleshooting. Here’s what to do.

  1. Create a WordPress backup before you start. You can use a backup plugin for this.
  2. Compare the folder of the theme you installed in WordPress with the folder you’re trying to upload.
  3. The problem is usually with an image, video, or document file (.php or .css) that already exists under that name, and is write-protected (theme editing is disabled). Make sure to also fix file and folder permissions in WordPress.
  4. You can upload media under a different name then change the PHP/CSS files or use the website builder tools to point to that file.
  5. In the case of a document, you can right-click on the document already on the website, and select View/Edit. Then, manually paste the code changes you wanted to apply by uploading the file.

And those were the steps to solve the Destination folder already exists error in WordPress. If you aren’t confident or can’t fix the issue, reach out to your hosting customer support, or hire someone experienced.