Fix "Installation Failed: Destination Folder Already Exists" in WordPress

What it means

You try to install a plugin or theme and WordPress says Installation failed: Destination folder already exists.

Usual reasons:

1. You installed the plugin or theme before and turned it off, but did not delete it.
2. An earlier install stopped half way and left a folder.
3. You uploaded the files by FTP and then tried to install it from the dashboard.

Method 1: Replace the existing folder

If the upload page offers it, choose Replace current with uploaded. In WordPress 5.5 and later, WordPress shows a comparison page when you upload a newer version of a plugin or theme.

1. Go to Plugins, then Add New, and click Upload Plugin. Upload the zip file.

   

2. When WordPress finds the existing version, click Replace current with uploaded.

   

Method 2: Delete the folder with File Manager

1. Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.

   

2. Go to the folder of your site, then wp-content, and open plugins (or themes).
3. Find the folder that has the name of the plugin or theme.

   

4. Right-click the folder and choose Delete. Be sure it is the right folder.

   

5. Install the plugin or theme again.

Method 3: A file manager plugin

1. Search the plugin directory for a trusted file manager plugin and install it.

   

2. Open it, find the folder and delete it. Then install again.

Method 4: WP-CLI (server side)

1. Connect to the server with SSH.
2. Go to the folder of WordPress:

cd /var/www/html/your-website-folder

1. Delete the plugin, replacing plugin-name with the real folder name:

wp plugin delete plugin-name

For a theme, use wp theme delete theme-name.

Important

• Take a full backup before you delete anything.
• Delete the right folder. If the plugin holds data, export it first.
• Install the plugin again, and activate it.

Quick recap

• The folder is already there.
• Replace it from the upload page, or delete it with File Manager or WP-CLI.
• Back up first.