Why is WordPress asking for FTP credentials when I update a plugin?

That prompt usually means WordPress can’t write to its own install with direct filesystem access, so it falls back to asking for FTP or SSH details. It doesn’t automatically mean your FTP login is wrong. Check the ownership and write access of the WordPress files, especially `wp-content/plugins` and `wp-content/upgrade`, under the account PHP actually runs as. The right setup depends on the host, so 755/644 isn’t a magic fix if the owner or group is wrong. Also check `wp-config.php` for an existing `FS_METHOD` or FTP setting: a forced method can change what WordPress tries. I wouldn’t blindly add `FS_METHOD` = `direct`, store credentials in `wp-config.php`, or make folders 777 just to hide the prompt. If this started after a host or PHP change, ask the host to verify the PHP filesystem user, ownership, and any server policy. Take a backup before changing permissions or updating.