Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

WordPress Upgrade Download Failed: The Checksum of the File - How to Fix it

WordPress is one of the most popular open-source content management systems used by millions of websites and blogs worldwide. It offers regular updates to fix bugs and enhance security features for better performance.

However, sometimes during the upgrade process, users encounter an error message saying, "Download failed. The checksum of the file doesn't match the expected checksum." This error usually occurs when there is a problem with the downloaded file or the security certificate does not match the expected value.

If you encounter this issue during the WordPress upgrade process, don't panic. Here are some possible solutions to fix the problem:

Solution 1: Verify the Checksum Value

The first solution is to verify the checksum value of the downloaded upgrade file. To ensure that the downloaded file is not corrupted or tampered with, you should download the file again from the official WordPress website or repository.

After downloading the file, you can verify the checksum value using the MD5 or SHA-256 algorithm. There are many online tools available to check the value, or you can use a command-line tool to verify the value.

If the checksum value is correct, you can proceed with the upgrade process. If not, try downloading the file again or contact the WordPress support team for assistance.

Solution 2: Disable Security Plugins

WordPress security plugins add an extra layer of security to your website by detecting and preventing malicious activities. Sometimes these plugins can cause conflicts during the upgrade process and trigger the checksum error.

To fix this issue, you can temporarily disable the security plugin and try upgrading WordPress again. If the upgrade is successful, you can re-enable the plugin and check if the issue persists.

Solution 3: Upgrade Manually

If the above solutions do not work, you can try upgrading WordPress manually. It involves downloading the latest version of WordPress, extracting the files, deleting the wp-admin and wp-includes folders, and uploading the new version to the server.

Before starting the manual upgrade, it is essential to backup your WordPress website to avoid any data loss. You can also seek professional help from experienced WordPress developers.

In conclusion, the WordPress upgrade download failed error can be frustrating, but it is fixable. By following these solutions, you can troubleshoot the problem and upgrade your WordPress to the latest version for better performance and security.