Using the File Manager in DirectAdmin

The File Manager in DirectAdmin lets you browse, upload, edit, and manage your website files directly from your browser without needing FTP software.

Accessing the File Manager

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Navigate to System Info & Files
3. Click File Manager
4. You will see your home directory listing

Navigating to Your Website Files

Your website files are located at:

/home/username/domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/

1. Click domains folder
2. Click your domain name folder
3. Click public_html
4. This is your website root directory

Common Tasks

Uploading Files

1. Navigate to the target directory
2. Click Upload files to current directory (or the upload button)
3. Select the file(s) from your computer
4. Wait for the upload to complete
5. The files will appear in the directory listing

Tip: For large files or many files at once, use FTP instead of the file manager for better reliability.

Creating a New File

1. Navigate to the directory where you want the file
2. Click Create New File
3. Enter the file name (e.g., robots.txt)
4. Click Create
5. The file editor will open — add your content and click Save

Creating a New Directory

1. Navigate to the parent directory
2. Click Create New Folder or New Directory
3. Enter the folder name
4. Click Create

Editing Files

1. Click on the file name or the Edit icon
2. The built-in text editor will open
3. Make your changes
4. Click Save

Tip: The file manager editor is great for quick changes to configuration files like .htaccess, wp-config.php, or php.ini.

Renaming Files or Folders

1. Check the box next to the file or folder
2. Click Rename
3. Enter the new name
4. Click Save or Rename

Deleting Files or Folders

1. Check the box(es) next to the items to delete
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm the deletion

Warning: Deleted files cannot be recovered unless you have a backup. Always back up important files before deleting.

Setting File Permissions

1. Click the permissions number next to a file (e.g., 644)
2. Set the desired permissions using checkboxes or enter the numeric value
3. Click Save

Recommended permissions:

• Files: 644
• Directories: 755
• Sensitive config files: 600

Extracting Archives

1. Upload your .zip, .tar.gz, or .tar file
2. Click on the archive file
3. Select Extract or Uncompress
4. Choose the destination directory
5. Click Extract

Compressing Files

1. Select the files/folders you want to compress
2. Click Add to Archive or Compress
3. Choose the format (zip is most common)
4. Enter a name for the archive
5. Click Create

File Manager Tips

1. Show hidden files — Enable "Show hidden files" to see files starting with . (like .htaccess)
2. Use the path bar — Click on folder names in the breadcrumb path for quick navigation
3. Sort files — Click column headers to sort by name, size, or date
4. Download files — Click the filename to download, or right-click and save

Troubleshooting

Cannot Upload Files

• Check if you have enough disk space
• The upload file size limit is typically 50-100 MB via the file manager
• Use FTP for larger files

Cannot Edit a File

• Check file permissions (must be writable by your user)
• Binary files (images, executables) cannot be edited in the text editor

Files Not Showing on Website

• Verify files are in the correct public_html directory
• Check file names are correct (case-sensitive on Linux)
• Clear your browser cache

Related Articles

• Uploading Files via FTP
• DirectAdmin Dashboard Overview

Need help? Contact our support team at {{SUPPORT_EMAIL}} or open a ticket at {{SUPPORT_URL}}.