How to Fix Destination Folder Already Exists Error in WordPress

What causes the target folder already exists error in WordPress?

When installing a plugin or theme, WordPress will have the "Target folder already exists"error, but the folder for those files already exists. WordPress will then cancel the installation and display the following error message:

Open the package...

Plugins being installed...

The target folder already exists. /home/websitename/public_html/wp-content/plugins/plugin-name/

The plugin is already installed.

To find out why the error is occurring, go to your theme or plugin page and check to see if the plugin or theme is installed on your WordPress site.

If it hasn't been installed yet, there are two scenarios. One is that a previous installation attempt failed and left the plugin or theme folder behind.

If this is the case, then you should uninstall the WordPress plugin and uninstall the WordPress theme. Alternatively, it's a previous installation attempt that was interrupted and left an empty destination folder.

In either case, there will be a folder with the same name as the theme or plugin you are trying to install. This folder will prevent WordPress from completing the installation.

Let's look at how to fix a WordPress website with "Target folder already exists"Error.

Note: Since this tutorial involves deleting and replacing files, it is recommended that before proceeding with theDuplicatorplug-in (software)
Create a backup. This way, if an error occurs, the site can be quickly restored.

Method 1: Replace the current folder with the uploaded file

To resolve the "Destination folder already exists" error, you can try replacing the existing plugin or theme folder with the newly uploaded content. For this method, the zip folder of the installed plugin or theme is required.

Simply go to the WordPress dashboard on theplug-in (software component)maybeAppearance" themepage and then manually upload the zip folder from your computer.

WordPress will then tell that the plugin or theme is already installed on your site and ask if you want to replace it.

Simply click "Replace current content with uploaded content" will do. The new theme or plugin installation should now be successful.

Method 2: Delete the Plugins/Themes folder and reinstall it.

If the "Replace current content with uploaded content" function is not available or does not work, you can delete the existing folder manually.

First, you can connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client (such as FileZilla File Manager) or a control panel.

After connecting, go to /wp-content/plugins/ or /wp-content/themes/ folder.(depending on what you have installed).

Now, locate the folder named after the plugin or theme you are trying to install andremovingThe

You can now return to the WordPress admin backend and retry installing the plugin or theme as usual.

Hopefully this article will help you guys understand how to fix the WordPress "Target folder already exists"Mistakes, if they don't help, then"Contact Us".

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