Reset file and folder permissions
by Prakhar Bhatia 5 (3 reviews)

Reset file and folder permissions

A WordPress plugin to reset file permissions to 0644, directory permissions to 0755, and file/folder ownership for security and maintenance purposes.

Reset file and folder permissions ranks #11,751 among WordPress.org plugins with 200+ active installations, is #300 of 1,518 in the Performance category, a 5/5 rating from 3 reviews, and was last updated May 23, 2026. Data from WordPress.org, refreshed twice daily — see methodology.

Tested up to WP 7.0.4 (Current: 7.1)
v1.2.0 Current Version v1.2.0
Updated 3 months ago Last Update on 23 May, 2026
Refreshed 9 hours ago Last Refreshed on
#300 of 1,518 in Performance Top 25% by installs Downloads +7.9% this week
View on WordPress.org
Rank
#11,751
No change
Active Installs
200+
-21.3%
KW Avg Position
80.5
0.3 better
Downloads
2.4K
+11 today
Support Resolved
0%
No change
Rating
100%
Review 5 out of 5
5 (3 reviews)

Next Milestone 300

Total Progress 72%
200+ 300+
555
Ranks to Climb
-
Growth Needed
8,000,000
Active Installs
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Rank Changes

11,670 11,710 11,750 11,789 11,829 09-09-2026 10-09-2026 11-09-2026 12-09-2026 13-09-2026 14-09-2026 15-09-2026 16-09-2026
11,654 11,727 11,801 11,874 11,947 01-09-2026 02-09-2026 03-09-2026 04-09-2026 05-09-2026 06-09-2026 07-09-2026 08-09-2026 09-09-2026 10-09-2026 11-09-2026 12-09-2026 13-09-2026 14-09-2026 15-09-2026 16-09-2026
Current #11,751
Change
Best #

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Active Installs Growth

Active Installs 0,000,000+
Growth +0.0%
Peak 0,000,000

Downloads Growth

0 10 20 30 09-09-2026 10-09-2026 11-09-2026 12-09-2026 13-09-2026 14-09-2026 15-09-2026 16-09-2026
0 10 20 30 01-09-2026 02-09-2026 03-09-2026 04-09-2026 05-09-2026 06-09-2026 07-09-2026 08-09-2026 09-09-2026 10-09-2026 11-09-2026 12-09-2026 13-09-2026 14-09-2026 15-09-2026 16-09-2026
Downloads
Growth
Peak

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Reviews & Ratings

5.0
3 reviews
Overall 100%
5
3 (100%)
4
0 (0%)
3
0 (0%)
2
0 (0%)
1
0 (0%)

Security History

Source: WPVulnerability

No known vulnerabilities on record for Reset file and folder permissions. Checked 1 month ago.

TL;DR

AI summary of the plugin's readme

This plugin is for WordPress administrators who need to fix file and directory permissions and ownership, especially after site migrations or server changes. It resets files to 0644 and directories to 0755 permissions, and can also correct file/folder ownership to resolve write access and permission-related errors.

  • Reset file permissions to 0644
  • Reset directory permissions to 0755
  • Reset file/folder ownership
  • Server compatibility check
  • Batch processing for large directories
  • Real-time progress bar
  • Selective directory processing
  • Error logging and reporting

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Reset file and folder permissions

Yes, the plugin includes multiple safety measures: - Requires administrator privileges - Shows confirmation dialogs before processing - Validates all paths to ensure they're within WordPress - Processes files in batches to prevent timeouts - Provides detailed error reporting
The permissions set by this plugin (0644 for files, 0755 for directories) are the WordPress recommended standards. However, some special files or custom configurations might require different permissions. Always backup your site before making changes.
No, permission changes cannot be automatically undone. This is why it's important to have a backup before running the tool. However, the plugin sets standard WordPress permissions that should work for most installations.
The plugin processes files in batches, so if interrupted, only the current batch might be affected. You can safely restart the process, and it will continue from where it left off.
Yes, as long as your hosting provider allows the PHP chmod() function and you have sufficient file system permissions. The plugin will display an error if chmod() is not available.
Yes, you can choose to process: - Entire WordPress installation - WP Content directory only - Plugins directory only - Themes directory only - Uploads directory only
File ownership determines which user and group have control over files. In WordPress, files should typically be owned by the web server user (like www-data, apache, or nginx) to ensure proper functionality. Incorrect ownership can prevent WordPress from writing files, installing plugins/themes, or updating content.
The ownership reset feature requires PHP functions (chown, chgrp, and POSIX functions) that are often disabled on shared hosting for security reasons. These functions typically require elevated server privileges and are only available on VPS, dedicated servers, or hosting environments where you have more control. If you don't see the ownership tab or see a compatibility warning, contact your hosting provider or consider upgrading to a more flexible hosting solution.
The plugin automatically detects your web server's user and group and recommends them. In most cases, you should use the recommended values. Common web server users include: www-data (Ubuntu/Debian), apache (CentOS/RHEL), nginx (Nginx servers), or _www (macOS).
Yes, setting incorrect ownership can prevent WordPress from functioning properly. Always use the recommended values provided by the plugin. If you're unsure, contact your hosting provider or a WordPress professional before making ownership changes.

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