Installing an extension fails with "Copy file failed"
Joomla can't write to its folders. Check the tmp path and folder permissions, or that the zip isn't bigger than your upload limit.
Why it happens
The installer unpacks the zip in the temp folder and copies the files into place. If it can't write to the temp folder or the target folders, or the upload was cut off by the size limit, copying fails.
Fix it
- Check Path to Temp Folder (Global Configuration → Server) points to your site's
tmpfolder. - Check folder permissions: 755 for folders, 644 for files.
- Compare the zip size with the upload limit in System → System Information (upload_max_filesize). Raise it, or use Install from Folder: upload the unpacked files to
tmpby FTP and install from there. - If an older version of the extension left files behind, remove them or reinstall over them.
Sources
- Installing an extension – Joomla User Guide
- Global Configuration – Joomla User Guide
