How to Use File Manager in cPanel

cPanel's File Manager is a web-based tool for managing your website files directly in the browser. No FTP client needed.

Accessing File Manager

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Under Files, click File Manager.
3. You can configure the starting directory:

- Web Root (public_html) — most common.

- Home Directory — see all account files.

- Document Root for your domain — specific domain.

[screenshot: File Manager initial view showing public_html]

Interface Layout

• Left Panel: Directory tree for navigation.
• Center Panel: File and folder listing for the current directory.
• Top Toolbar: Action buttons (upload, create, delete, etc.).

Common Operations

Upload Files

1. Navigate to the target directory.
2. Click Upload in the toolbar.
3. Drag and drop files or click Select File.
4. Wait for upload to complete.
5. Click Go Back to return to File Manager.

Create a New File

1. Click + File in the toolbar.
2. Enter the filename (e.g., `robots.txt`).
3. Click Create New File.

Create a New Folder

1. Click + Folder in the toolbar.
2. Enter the folder name.
3. Click Create New Folder.

Edit a File

1. Select the file.
2. Click Edit in the toolbar (or right-click > Edit).
3. Choose the code editor.
4. Make your changes.
5. Click Save Changes.

Tip: The built-in code editor supports syntax highlighting for PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other languages.

Delete Files/Folders

1. Select the items.
2. Click Delete in the toolbar.
3. Optionally check Skip the trash and permanently delete.
4. Click Confirm.

Compress Files

1. Select files/folders to compress.
2. Click Compress in the toolbar.
3. Choose format: ZIP, GZ, or BZ2.
4. Enter archive name.
5. Click Compress File(s).

Extract Archives

1. Select the archive file (.zip, .tar.gz).
2. Click Extract in the toolbar.
3. Choose the destination directory.
4. Click Extract File(s).

Copy/Move Files

1. Select the files.
2. Click Copy or Move.
3. Enter the destination path.
4. Click Copy or Move File(s).

Permissions (chmod)

1. Select a file or folder.
2. Click Permissions in the toolbar (or right-click > Change Permissions).
3. Set the numeric permission (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for folders).
4. Click Change Permissions.

Common Permissions

Warning: Never set permissions to 777 (world-writable). This is a major security risk.

Viewing Hidden Files

Hidden files (starting with `.) like .htaccess` are not shown by default:

1. Click Settings in the top-right of File Manager.
2. Check Show Hidden Files (dotfiles).
3. Click Save.

Related Articles

• How to Upload Files via FTP
• cPanel Dashboard Overview and Navigation

Need help? Contact our support team at {{SUPPORT_URL}}/client/support.