Understanding File Permissions

File permissions control who can read, write, and execute files in your WordPress installation. Correct file permissions are crucial for security. Improper settings can expose your website to attacks.

Optimal File Permissions

The recommended permission settings are: files should be 644 and directories should be 755. This setup ensures that files are readable and writable only by your user account, and not by others on the same server.

Setting Permissions

You can change file permissions using an FTP client or directly in the terminal. For FTP, right-click the file or folder, select ‘Permissions’ or ‘Properties’, and set the numeric value. In a terminal, use the chmod command.

Plugins to Help

While managing permissions manually is preferred, plugins like Filester can help manage file access via WordPress dashboard.

Regularly review and adjust permissions, especially after installing new plugins or making significant changes to your website.