Hey there, I know this setwd() error can be super frustrating—especially when it hits right at startup and messes up libraries like plotly or tinytex installs. Let's break down the solutions step by step:

1. First, check R's running permissions #

This is the most common culprit. R might not have the rights to access or modify directories:

• Windows: Right-click R or RStudio, select "Run as administrator" and try again. Restricted user accounts often block R from changing directories.
• macOS/Linux: Open your terminal and launch R with sudo R (you'll need your admin password). Note: Use sudo sparingly—exit R after testing to avoid unintended system changes.

2. Manually set a working directory with full access #

Pick a folder you definitely have read/write permissions for (like your user Documents folder), then:

• Run this command (replace the path with your own):

  setwd("C:/Users/Miquel/Documents/R_Workspace") # Windows
  # OR
  setwd("~/Documents/R_Workspace") # macOS/Linux
  

• RStudio users can skip typing: Go to Session > Set Working Directory > Choose Directory and select your folder graphically.

3. Fix the temporary directory (tempdir()) issue for tinytex #

The tinytex::install_tinytex() error happens because R can't access its default temp folder. Here's how to fix it:

1. First, check where R is trying to use as temp dir:

   tempdir()
   

2. Go to that folder in your system and verify you have read/write permissions. If not:
   • Create a new temp folder you control (e.g., C:/Users/Miquel/Documents/R_Temp on Windows)
   • Tell R to use this folder instead:

     Sys.setenv(TMPDIR = "C:/Users/Miquel/Documents/R_Temp")
     

3. Now try installing tinytex again:

   tinytex::install_tinytex()
   

4. Set a permanent default working directory #

To avoid this error on every startup:

• RStudio: Go to Tools > Global Options > General, then under Default working directory, select your trusted folder. Click Apply and restart RStudio.
• Non-RStudio: Edit your .Rprofile file (create it if it doesn't exist) and add:

  setwd("your/trusted/directory/path")
  

  This will run automatically every time you start R.

5. Fixing plotly's related error #

The plotly issue is just a side effect of the same directory permission problem. Once you resolve the core setwd() issues above, try running plot_ly() again—it should work without the error.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Miquel