Destination Folder Already Exists after deleting wordpress-seo folder

Thanks for reaching out here. We’re sorry to hear that you’re having trouble.

If removing the wordpress-seo folder from the /wp-content/plugins/ still causes the issue for you, this means the relevant still exists on the same directory. We recommend you please try removing the same folder again to see whether this resolves the issue for you.

If the issue persists, we recommend you please install the plugin through FTP by overriding all the files. You could the relevant guide here: https://yoast.com/help/how-can-i-update-my-premium-plugin/#ftp

The folder doesn’t show up in the list of folders in /wp-content/plugins/ becuase I deleted it.

I tried to install through FTP and got the wordpress-seo folder back into /wp-content/plugins/ but I don’t know how to see the plugin when in the backend of my website on WordPress. Do I need to do something else after uploading the file?

I tried deleting the file one more time and re-installing through WordPress (by just adding a new plugin) and it still tells me the destination folder exists. It’s like it’s not getting deleted when I delete it from my wp-content/plugins folder.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by alukerowley.

Thanks for the feedback, @alukerowley.

It’s great that you have successfully uploaded the plugin folder /wordpress-seo/ via FTP. In the WordPress admin dashboard, Yoast SEO should be listed as one of the plugins in the plugins list. Then you can activate the plugin.

Let’s know how that goes.

The plugin still doesn’t appear in my list of plugins.

I had to upload the zip folder and extract it to get the wordpress-seo folder in there, I don’t know if that affects anything.

Also, I wonder about why Yoast suddenly just disappeared and maybe that has something to do with why I still can’t see it?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by alukerowley.

Hi,

If you follow the steps here to manually install/update the Yoast SEO plugin via FTP, you would have to extract the downloaded zip file, and then upload the plugin folder, and if possible, to overwrite any existing plugin files. We would then expect that Yoast SEO v16.8 would then appear in your list of plugins, but it just wouldn’t be activated. You may need to reach out to your web host or developer for assistance with installing the plugin via FTP.

As to why the Yoast SEO plugin suddenly disappeared, we can’t say for certain what caused it without having to investigate it further, which we are unable to do so over these public forums. It’s possible there was a conflict with a plugin or theme on your setup, or something else entirely.

I uploaded the folder through cPanel, does it have to be FTP?

cPanel wouldn’t let me upload the extracted folder, I had to upload the .zip folder then extract it once that was in my website files.

Also, I and others would appreciate it if the disappearing issue was looked into further. I’m not the only one who’s had this problem and it’s very concerning when a plugin that’s normally as good and stable as Yoast suddenly disappears.

Ah, it works now! I had to be in FTP, not cPanel.

The issue was because I use Bluehost and Flywheel for hosting/management of the site and needed to get into my FTP with the Flywheel info, not through Bluehost. When I tried with cPanel it was through Bluehost, not Flywheel, which is why that had no effect on anything.

Hi @alukerowley,

Thanks for the helpful update. We’re glad to hear that it’s working.