File Manager

cPanel Version: 118

cPanel organizes all the files in your account into folders. Use the File Manager interface to manage and edit your files.

How to manage files and folders with cPanel

1. Log into your cPanel account.
2. Scroll to the Files section.
3. Click on File Manager.
4. The File Manager tool lets you do lots of different things with your files and folders.

Change Settings

1. Click on Settings. This opens the Preferences interface.
2. Choose which folder you want the File Manager to open by default:
1. Home Directory – This is the main folder for your account.
2. Web Root (public_html or www) – This takes you straight to your files.
3. Public FTP Root (public_ftp) – This is where your FTP files are.
4. Document Root for: – Choose this to open the folder for a specific domain you select from the list.
3. To see hidden files in the interface, check the box for Show Hidden Files (dotfiles).
4. If you don't want to see messages about character encodings, check the box for Disable Character Encoding Verification Dialogs.
5. Click Save to apply your settings.

Create or Copy Files & Folders

1. To Create a New File or Folder:
1. Click on + File or + Folder in the toolbar. A new window will show up.
2. Type the name of the new file or folder in the New File Name or New Folder Name text box.

   Note

   To change the name of a file or folder, click on its current name, type the new name in the text box, and press the Return key to save it.

3. Enter where you want to make the new file or folder in the New file will be created in or New folder will be created in text box.
4. Click Create New File or Create New Folder.
2. To Copy Files:
1. Choose the files you want to copy.

   Warning!

   You can't make a copy of something in the same folder.

2. Click Copy in the toolbar at the top. The Copy window will show up.

   Note

   You can also right-click and pick Copy.

3. In the Copy window, type the path where you want the copy saved in the Enter the file path that you want to copy this file to: text box.
4. Click Copy File(s) to make the copies.
3. To Copy a Folder with Files:
1. Pick the folder you want to copy.
2. Use a file compression tool suitable for your operating system to zip the folder.

   Note

   The steps to compress a folder vary. For instance, on macOS® 11.5, right-click the folder and select Compress "Folder".

3. Click Upload in the toolbar and either drag and drop the zipped file or use the Select File button to upload it.
4. Once the zipped folder is in File Manager, select it and click Extract in the toolbar at the top. This will unzip your folder.

Move files or folders

1. Pick the file or files you want to move.
2. Click Move in the toolbar at the top. The Move window will open.
3. Type the new location for the file in the Enter the file path that you want to move this file to: text box.
4. Click Move File(s) to move the file.

Upload a full folder or multiple files

1. Select the folder or files you want to upload.
2. Use a file compression tool suitable for your operating system to zip the folder or files.

   Note

   The steps to compress a folder vary.

   For Windows: Press and hold (or right-click) the file or folder, select (or point to) Send to, and then select Compressed (zipped) folder.

   On Mac: right-click on the folder or file, and then Compress

3. Click Upload in the toolbar and either drag and drop the zipped file or use the Select File button to upload it.
4. Once the zipped folder is in File Manager, select it and click Extract in the toolbar at the top. This will unzip your folder.

Update file or folder permissions

1. Choose the file or folder you want to change permissions for.
2. Click Permissions in the toolbar. The Change Permissions window will show up.
3. Change the permissions by using the checkboxes or typing in the text boxes. The recommended setting is 0644 for files and 0755 for folders.
4. Click Change Permissions to save your new settings.

Delete or restore files and folders

Delete a file or folder

1. Choose the file or folder you want to remove.
2. Click Delete in the toolbar. The Trash window will open.
3. Click Confirm to make sure you want to delete it.

Restore a file or folder

1. Click View Trash from the toolbar.
2. Pick the file or folder you want to get back.
3. Click Restore in the toolbar.
4. Confirm that you want to bring back the item.

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External links

File Manager - cPanel Documentation