Introduction

Managing website files doesn’t always require FTP clients or command-line skills. With cPanel’s File Manager, you can upload, edit, organize, and manage your website files through a user-friendly web interface. Whether you’re making quick changes to your site or uploading entire folders, File Manager gives you complete control from your browser.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to use File Manager like a pro.

What is File Manager in cPanel?

File Manager is a web-based tool in cPanel that allows you to:

• Navigate your website’s file structure

• Upload and download files

• Edit HTML, PHP, CSS, and other files

• Set file and folder permissions

• Extract or compress files

• Delete or move files/folders

No technical background? No problem File Manager makes it easy.

How to Access File Manager

1. Login to cPanel.

2. Scroll down to the “Files” section.

3. Click on “File Manager.”

Tip: Most websites are hosted under the public_html directory. This is your main web root folder.

Navigating the File Structure

• Left panel: Folder tree view

• Right panel: Contents of the selected folder

• Top menu: Action buttons like Upload, Edit, Delete, Permissions, etc.

• Toolbar icons: Easy access to common tasks

You can double-click folders to expand them or click on a file to highlight it for action.

Uploading Files

1. Navigate to the folder where you want to upload your file (e.g., public_html).

2. Click the “Upload” button in the top toolbar.

3. Drag and drop your file or click “Select File” to browse and upload.

4. Wait for the upload to complete a green progress bar will indicate success.

File size limits may apply depending on your server configuration.

Editing Files

1. Select the file you want to edit (HTML, PHP, etc.).

2. Click on “Edit” or “HTML Editor” from the top menu.

3. A new tab will open with a code editor.

4. Make your changes and click “Save Changes.”

Tip: Always create a backup before editing live site files.

Creating New Files and Folders

• Click the “+ File” or “+ Folder” button in the top toolbar.

• Enter the name and select the directory.

• Click Create New File/Folder.

This is great for manually setting up new web pages or directories.

Compressing and Extracting Files

• Select multiple files or a folder.

• Click “Compress” to zip them.

• To unzip a file, click “Extract.”

This is especially useful when uploading a full website or backup.

Deleting Files

1. Select the file or folder.

2. Click “Delete” in the top toolbar.

3. Choose whether to skip the trash or move to trash.

4. Confirm deletion.

You can restore items from Trash unless you opted to skip it.

Changing File Permissions

1. Select a file or folder.

2. Click “Permissions” or right-click → Change Permissions.

3. Adjust the permission settings (e.g., 755 or 644).

4. Click Change Permissions.

This is useful for securing sensitive files or enabling scripts.

Common Use Cases

• Uploading a new HTML landing page

• Editing wp-config.php for WordPress settings

• Replacing an outdated image or CSS file

• Fixing an error in .htaccess

• Extracting a ZIP file of a full site backup

Pro Tips

• Use “View” to quickly preview files.

• Enable “Show Hidden Files” from File Manager settings to see .htaccess and other hidden items.

• Download backups before making critical changes.

• Use the search bar to quickly find files or folders.

Conclusion

cPanel’s File Manager is a powerful yet simple tool that gives you hands-on control over your website. Whether you’re uploading content, tweaking code, or organizing folders, you can handle it all without any external software. With this guide, you’re now ready to confidently manage your files and keep your site running smoothly.