What this solves
You see “permission denied” or are told to set permissions to 644 or 755. This guide explains the basics.
Numbers explained
Permissions are read (r), write (w), execute (x). Owner, group, and others each have a value: 4=read, 2=write, 1=execute. So 644 = owner rw, group r, others r (files). 755 = owner rwx, group and others rx (directories, executables).
Common settings
Files: 644. Directories: 755. wp-config.php: 640 or 600 for extra safety. Uploads folder: 755 so the server can serve files.
How to change
In File Manager, right-click the file or folder → Change Permissions. In SSH: chmod 644 file or chmod -R 755 folder.
Warning: Don’t set 777 on files or folders; it’s insecure.
When to contact support
If you’re unsure or get errors after changing permissions, we can help.
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