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Resolving File Editor Slashes and Quote Escaping Issues in WP File Manager

33 threads Sep 7, 2025 Plugin → File manager

Content

If you've ever edited a file using the WP File Manager code editor and found that your quotation marks (") were automatically escaped with a backslash ("), you're not alone. This issue can break critical files like wp-config.php or .htaccess, leading to site errors. This guide explains why this happens and how to resolve it.

Why Does This Happen?

The automatic addition of backslashes to quotation marks is a behavior known as 'escaping.' It is typically a security feature intended to prevent code injection. However, in the context of editing server configuration files or code, this automatic escaping is undesirable and can corrupt the file's syntax.

How to Fix It

Based on community reports and developer responses, the primary solution is to ensure your plugin is updated.

Solution 1: Update the Plugin

The 'File Manager' team has acknowledged and fixed this specific issue. According to their responses in the support forums, the bug was resolved in version 2.6 of the plugin.

  1. Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
  3. Locate WP File Manager.
  4. If an update is available, you will see a notification. Click Update Now.
  5. After updating, clear your browser and site cache, then test the code editor again.

Solution 2: Manual File Correction (If Already Affected)

If your site has already been broken by this issue, you will need to manually correct the file. You cannot use the WordPress dashboard if a core file like wp-config.php is broken.

  1. Access your server via FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider's file management tool (e.g., cPanel).
  2. Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation.
  3. Locate the corrupted file (e.g., wp-config.php).
  4. Edit the file using a plain text editor.
  5. Perform a find-and-replace operation to remove all instances of " and replace them with " (a standard quotation mark).
  6. Save the file and upload it back to the server, overwriting the old one.
  7. Your site should now be functional again.

Conclusion

The unwanted escaping of quotes was a confirmed bug that has been patched. Keeping your plugins updated is the best defense against such issues. If you encounter this problem, updating to the latest version of WP File Manager should resolve it immediately. For those dealing with a site breakage, manual correction via FTP is the required fix.

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