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WordPress Error Cases

Failed opening required …/wp-includes/…

“Failed opening required …/wp-includes/…” in WordPress: causes and what to check

Updated 2026-10-31
# Common log entries
PHP Warning:  require(…/wp-includes/load.php): Failed to open stream: No such file or directory in …/wp-settings.php on line …
PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Error: Failed opening required '…/wp-includes/load.php' in …/wp-settings.php

WordPress loads its core files from wp-includes and wp-admin on every request. PHP stops with this error when one of those files is missing or cannot be read.

Which of these matches what you see?

The update stopped partway and left core files missing. The file named in the message is one of them.

A security plugin or the host’s scanner moved or removed a core file it flagged.

The transfer skipped files or folders, so wp-includes is incomplete on the new host.

Common causes

Interrupted core update: The update replaced some files and stopped before the rest.
Moved or deleted files: A scanner or a cleanup step removed core files.
Incomplete transfer: An FTP or migration transfer skipped files.
Wrong file permissions: The file exists, and PHP cannot read it.

References

  1. Upgrading WordPress (Advanced Administration Handbook)
  2. Common WordPress errors (Advanced Administration Handbook)

What the system does

Corrupted or tampered core files are handled automatically: the system checks them against the official checksums and reinstalls the core files from the official release. Fixes are made on a copy of your site in the recovery station and written back only after re-verification passes. In your site’s database, the protected tables (members, comments, orders and form submissions) are copied as structure only. In SSH and FTP mode, the system creates a pre-recovery backup on your host before writing back and restores from it if verification after write-back fails. If the recovery cannot be completed, the recovery fee is refunded in full.

  1. Initial assessment: Enter the site URL
  2. Copy to the recovery station: Work runs on the copy
  3. Find the cause: Item-by-item checks
  4. Recover and re-check: Home and inner pages
  5. Write back or deliver: Only after re-checks pass

Use WP119 when core files are missing and you prefer not to upload WordPress files over FTP.

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