Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

Failure of Downloading WordPress Upgrade 4.8.1 due to Checksum Error

WordPress is one of the most popular CMS (Content Management System) platforms that is widely used across the globe. It is an open-source platform that provides an intuitive interface to create websites and blogs. The platform undergoes regular upgrades to improve its features and plugin compatibility. However, during the upgrade process, users may face issues that might disrupt the upgrade process.

One of the common issues that users face while upgrading WordPress is the failure of downloading the upgrade 4.8.1 due to the checksum error of the file. The checksum error occurs when the PHP file that is downloaded is different from what is expected due to some corruption or network loss issues.

There are several methods that users can adopt to fix this issue. In this article, we will explore some of the methods that can help in resolving the issue.

Method 1: Manual Upgrade

One way to resolve this issue is by performing a manual upgrade. This means that the user needs to download the WordPress upgrade zip file from the official website, extract the contents, and then upload them to the web server.

To perform this task, the following steps should be followed:

• Download the WordPress upgrade file from the official website and extract its contents on your local machine.
• Connect to your website's File Transfer Protocol (FTP) using a software tool such as FileZilla.
• Navigate to the WordPress directory and delete all the files and folders except for the wp-config.php file and wp-content folder.
• Upload the extracted files to the webserver's root directory.
• Run the upgrade script by visiting the WP-Admin webpage from your browser.

This process will ensure that all the files are uploaded correctly without any corruption issues, thereby resolving the checksum error.

Method 2: Increase Memory Limit

Sometimes, the failure of downloading the WordPress upgrade file may happen due to low PHP memory limit. To resolve this, users can increase the PHP memory limit by editing the php.ini file or by adding a code snippet in the wp-config.php file.

To increase the PHP memory limit using the php.ini file, follow the steps below:

• Log in to your web server using an FTP client and navigate to the root directory.
• Locate the php.ini file and download it to your local machine.
• Open the php.ini file using a text-editor and add the following line at the end:

text memory_limit = 256M

• Save the file and upload it back to the webserver's root directory.
• Reload the website and try the WordPress upgrade installation again.

If the issue persists, users can increase the PHP memory limit by adding a code snippet in the wp-config.php file. Add the following code just before the “That’s all, stop editing” line:

text define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Method 3: Use a Different Network

The checksum error during the WordPress upgrade process may occur due to network-related issues. Poor connectivity or unstable internet connection may lead to a failed download of the upgrade files. In this case, users can try using a different network to download the files.

Conclusion

The failure of downloading the WordPress upgrade 4.8.1 due to a checksum error can be a frustrating experience. However, the methods discussed above can provide some assistance in resolving the issue. Choosing the appropriate method requires an understanding of the underlying cause of the issue. It is recommended that users seek professional help if they are not comfortable performing these steps themselves.