How to use File Manager in cPanel Print

Overview

The File Manager in cPanel gives you direct access to your website's files from your browser — no FTP software needed. It’s useful for quickly uploading, editing, deleting, or backing up files in your hosting account.

Accessing File Manager

1. Log into your cPanel account.
2. Scroll to the Files section.
3. Click File Manager.
4. By default, it opens your home directory. To manage your website files, open the public_html folder.

Uploading Files

1. Navigate to the folder where you want to upload files (e.g., public_html).
2. Click the Upload button in the top toolbar.
3. Drag and drop files into the window, or use Select File to browse.
4. Wait until the progress bar completes, then click Go Back.

Editing Files

1. Right-click on the file you want to edit.
2. Select Edit (for code/text) or HTML Editor (for visual editing).
3. Make your changes and click Save Changes.

Tip: Always back up the file before editing, especially PHP files.

Extracting and Compressing Files

1. Select one or more files/folders using the checkboxes or Ctrl/Cmd+Click.
2. Click Compress to create a ZIP archive, or Extract to unzip an existing file.

Deleting Files

1. Right-click the file or folder and select Delete.
2. Choose whether to send the file to Trash or delete it permanently.
3. To restore deleted items, open the Trash folder and move them back.

Changing File Permissions

1. Right-click a file or folder and select Change Permissions.
2. Use the checkboxes or numeric mode (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for folders).
3. Click Change Permissions to apply.

Important: Avoid setting permissions to 777 as it poses a security risk.

Best Practices

• Work inside public_html for live website files.
• Keep local backups before editing or deleting files.
• Don’t store sensitive data like passwords or backups in public_html.
• Use File Manager for quick tasks — consider FTP or Git for bulk or version-controlled work.

Need Help?

If you're unsure which files to modify or encounter a permissions error, open a support ticket and our team will assist you.