Under normal use, WordPress should not require FTP login information when installing or updating plugins, themes, or WordPress itself.
If WordPress asks for FTP credentials when you try to install a plugin, update a theme, or perform a WordPress update, the website may not have the Windows file permissions needed to modify its files.
This can normally be fixed by enabling additional write/modify permissions for the website through Plesk.
Note: This article applies to Windows Web Hosting only. These steps do not apply to our Linux hosting servers.
Enable Additional Write/Modify Permissions in Plesk
- Log in to your Plesk control panel.
- Click Websites & Domains from the menu on the left.
- Find the affected WordPress website.
- Click the Hosting & DNS tab.
- Click Hosting.
- Locate the Additional write/modify permissions option and enable it.
- Click OK to save and apply the changes.
Once the setting has been enabled, return to your WordPress dashboard and try installing or updating the plugin or theme again.
WordPress should now have the permissions it needs to modify its files directly and should no longer ask you to provide FTP credentials.
Why Is This Needed on Windows Hosting?
Windows hosting uses Windows file system permissions to control which applications are allowed to modify website files.
WordPress needs permission to write to its own directories when installing plugins, updating themes, uploading certain files, or performing automatic updates.
Enabling Additional write/modify permissions in Plesk gives the website the permissions needed for these WordPress functions to work normally.
Still Being Asked for FTP Credentials?
If WordPress continues asking for FTP credentials after enabling additional write/modify permissions, contact DataPacket Support and provide the affected domain name.
We can check the Windows file permissions and WordPress configuration to determine why WordPress is still unable to modify its files.
