How To Fix “pclzip err bad format (-10) : unable to find end of central dir record signature”?

Published & Fact Checked by
Published on:
Last Updated on July 31, 2023

Ai Disclaimer: We don't use AI for content or research in any way. All of the contents
are researched and written by (Human) our team.

» Home » Error Codes » Internet » How To Fix “pclzip err bad format (-10) : unable to find end of central dir record signature”?
unable to find end of central dir record signature

Are you getting this error “unable to find end of central dir record signature” while uploading theme, plugin, or any other zip files on your WordPress site? If yes then in this post we are going to provide you with solutions to fix the issue.


Reasons Of The Issue “unable to find end of central dir record signature”


  • The issue is with the zip file, it may be corrupted or anything else.
  • The WordPress server doesn’t have enough memory to unzip and upload zip files.
  • Any plugin or script is conflicting with site functionality.

How To Fix If You Get Error “unable to find end of central dir record signature”?


Fix 1: The Zip File Is Corrupted

The very first possibility is that the issue is with the Zip file. Many times the Zip file get corrupted while downloading and when you try to upload that file to your WordPress, it will show you the error.

To confirm if this is the case simply try uploading a different zip file. If the other zip file is uploading successfully then it shows that the issue is with your Zip file.

So try downloading the Zip file again, or contact the file seller to find what is wrong with their ZIP file.


Fix 2: there’s not enough storage space on your web server

The WordPress server requires storage to unzip and upload the ZIP file content. If in case your WordPress server hasn’t enough storage then it will not be able to unzip the file, and as a result, you will get the issue.

So to find out if this is the case, try uploading a ZIP file with less size. If the lower-size zip files are uploading then it indicates that maybe there is not enough storage space on your web server. 

So to fix the issue simply try clearing some space from your server. And if you don’t know how to do that then contact your hosting provider, and ask for help.


Fix 3: set to TRUE For WP_DEBUG

If your website WP_DEBUG is set to TRUE under the wp-config.php file. It also can be the reason for the issue.

So to fix the issue simply add the following given lines under the wp-config.php file.

define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );

define( ‘WP_DEBUG_display’, false );


Fix 4: Uninstall Plugins And Enable Them One By One

The error can also be caused by any plugin or script. So uninstall all the plugins at once, and then activate them one by one to find if any of the plugins is causing the issue. Once you find the plugin which is causing the issue simply disable it permanently.


Fix 5: Contact hosting

If you still get the issue then you should contact your hosting provider. They can exactly tell you the exact reason for the issue. Whether the issue is with the server or the ZIP file.

If the issue resides in the server then hosting support will fix it. And if the issue is caused by the ZIP file then they request you to contact the theme or plugin seller.


Like This Post? Checkout More

Photo of author
Rahul Choudhary is a technology and troubleshooting expert. He gives his expert opinion on different technology trends and provides troubleshooting guides for different apps, websites, & consumer hardware products. He graduated in BA English Honours from the University Of Delhi, and later he learned HTML and WordPress. He also did a certificate course in Hardware and Network Troubleshooting , and a certificate course in Computer Architecture.