How to Change File Permissions in WordPress?

WordPress is a CMS or content management system that is very popular and used because of its features to create and manage websites such as blogs, e-commerce platforms, etc without having to code the website, it is important to understand the file permissions and how we can control it for making sure that the website is secure.

These are the following are some popular methods used for changing the file permissions for WordPress:

Using FTP Account

We can easily change the file permissions in WordPress if we have an FTP account set up, an FTP account is one provided by our hosting company so that we can easily manage the files which are located in the server for our website.

Steps to change file permissions in WordPress Using FTP Account

Step 1: Open Control Panel

The first step is opening the control panel, simply go to the service provider of hosting that host your website and log in, after login you will see an option for the control panel (it can differ from one hosting company to another) click on it.

Step 2: Open FTP Accounts:

Now you will have to click on the open FTP accounts option, this will give us the details about the FTP accounts such as host and port and host password etc.

Step 3: Open FTP Software and Log in

• Now the next step is to copy the details from the control panel in the above step and add it in any FTP software such as the FileZilla:
• If you are not familiar with FTP software and how they work, then read the following article:
• How to install FileZilla on Windows?
• After entering the details click on quickconnect and let it connect to your files of the website.

Step 4: Change File Attributes

Once the FileZilla is connected, open any file or folder you want to change the permissions for and right click on it then select the file permissions according to your needs and requirements, next click on the OK button to save this change.

Using cPanel of Hosting Provider

We can also change the file permissions directly from the cPanel itself without having to connect it to any FTP software.

Steps to change file permissions in WordPress Using cPanel of Hosting Provider

Step 1: Open File Manager

After logging into the cPanel as we did in the previous step, we will go to the online file manager (name can be different in other hosting providers)

Step 2: Click on CHMOD

Once the file directories opens, simply go to /htdocs/ and here the Wordpress files will be stored, click on the files or folders you want to make changes to and right click on it, then select the CHMOD option which will allows us to change the file permission.

Once the menu opens, enter the file permission code, following are the different types of file permissions:

• 755 (drwxr-xr-x): It is used for the folders and we can use this file permission in order to allow the website owner to read, write and execute.
• 644 (-rw-r--r--): this is a common file permission which allows only the owner to read and write the files, other people can only read it.
• 640 (-rw-r-----): it is a strict file permission, it allows the owner to both read and write but only allows group to read and does not allow any other access to others.
• 600 (-rw-------): this is a file permission which only allows the owner to read and write.
• 444 (-r--r--r--): this file permission is used when we want to make a file read only for everyone.

Using Wordpress Theme Code editor

We can also edit the file permissions using the Wordpress itself, this method is easy and straightforward for those who wants to change the file permissions of their Wordpress files without having to open the hosting and cPanel.

Steps to change file permissions in WordPress Using Wordpress Theme Code editor

Step 1: Open Theme File Editor

First step is to login to the Wordpress admin page and then go to Appearance > Theme File Editor

Step 2: Add Additional Code

Now we will have to add the following lines of code to the functions.php file:

This step is most important in this method so that we can change the code from here and it will automatically set the file permission to the Wordpress file:

function change_uploads_permissions() {
    $uploads_dir = wp_upload_dir()['basedir'];
    $permissions = 0755;

    if (file_exists($uploads_dir)) {
        // Set permissions for the uploads directory itself
        chmod($uploads_dir, $permissions);

        $iterator = new RecursiveIteratorIterator(
            new RecursiveDirectoryIterator($uploads_dir, RecursiveDirectoryIterator::SKIP_DOTS),
            RecursiveIteratorIterator::SELF_FIRST
        );

        foreach ($iterator as $file) {
            $filePath = $file->getPathname();

            if ($file->isFile()) {
                // Set permissions for individual files
                chmod($filePath, $permissions);
            } elseif ($file->isDir()) {
                // Set permissions for directories
                chmod($filePath, $permissions);
            }
        }
    }
}

add_action('init', 'change_uploads_permissions');

In the $permissions enter the required file permission code as per your needs, all the file permissions are already mentioned in the above method.

Conclusion

If we manage to set the correct file permissions for the wordpress websites, we can protect the files from hackers and other cyber attacks, it can also prevent the malwares which can enter the websites and delete important files. By following the steps and methods mentioned above we can easily set the required file permissions.