---
title: How to Fix “Missing a Temporary Folder” Error in WordPress
description: In this article, we are going to see how to fix the “Missing a Temporary Folder” error in WordPress.  This particular error makes it hard for WordPress users to upload an image or file as well as updating their plugins…
url: "https://truehost.com/support/knowledge-base/how-to-fix-missing-a-temporary-folder-error-in-wordpress/"
updated: "2024-06-21"
category: WordPress
---

# How to Fix “Missing a Temporary Folder” Error in WordPress

In this article, we are going to see how to fix the “Missing a Temporary Folder” error in WordPress. 

This particular error makes it hard for WordPress users to upload an image or file as well as updating their plugins or themes. 

I am glad you are here because by the end of this article you will no longer get the error when performing an upload or updating your plugins or themes.

**What causes “Missing a Temporary Folder” Error in WordPress?**

This error is mainly caused by incorrect PHP settings on your WordPress Hosting environment regardless of whether you are using a Tpanel, Cpanel, Cyberpanel, or Centos Web Panel (CWP). The settings allow WordPress to store the uploaded files or images in a temporary folder before it is finally stored in the desired location.

When WordPress cannot locate the temporary folder, whether you delete it or not it automatically gives the ‘Missing a temporary folder’ error.

Having highlighted that let us now get to see how to solve the ‘Missing a temporary folder’ error.

**Fixing Missing a Temporary Folder Error in WordPress**

This error is easily fixed by modifying the ‘*wp-config.php*’ file. This file usually contains the important aspects of your database information like database name, database username, and password among other details. 

> NOTE: Be sure to do a backup of your “*wp-config.php*” file. To achieve this, click on the file, then right-click and finally click compress. Once it finishes compressing you can download it to your machine just in case you need it again. Having a BACKUP is always important when doing any critical updates on your website.

**Steps on how to fix ‘Missing temporary folder’ error**

1. Login to your Cpanel or the panel you are using to host your WordPress site. We’ll be using the CPanel for this tutorial. Click on **file manager** and access the **root folder** of your website.

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/File-Manager-1024x188.png)
*File Manager*

2. Access the **wp-config.php**file from the WordPress root installation folder. In most cases, you can find the file in the **public_html**directory.

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wp-config.php_-1.png)
*wp-config.php*

3. Add the following code before the line “**That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing”**.

*define(‘WP_TEMP_DIR’,dirname(_FILE_). ‘/wp-content/temp/’);*

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-20200716224705-677x421-1.png)

4. Save changes (On your top right) after a successful paste of the above code.

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Save-Changes.png)

5. Now go back to the File Manager and locate the **/wp-content**folder and add a new folder under the name of **temp**inside it.

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wp-content.png.png)

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/add-folder.png)

![](https://truehost.co.ke/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/temp.png)

6. That’s it! Proceed to login back to your WordPress dashboard and you should be able to upload images again or do any updates that you were not able to do before.

## **Conclusion**

I hope that this guide helped you to fix the WordPress “**Missing a Temporary Folder”**error on your WordPress website.

If you have anything to ask, feel free to reach out to us. We are always on 24/7/365. 

Cheers!