Overview
File Manager is a built-in cPanel file management tool that allows you to manage the content of the webhosting without using FTP applications.
With File Manager, you can:
Create files and folders
Upload and download files
Copy and move files
Edit files directly in your browser
Manage file rights
Compress and unpack files
Delete and restore files
When you have finished this guide, you will know how to access File Manager in cPanel.
Important information
⚠️ Be careful when working in folders containing Git repositories.
If you change files or folders manually in a Git repository, it can cause synchronization issues or damage the repository.
⚠️ Some actions can only be performed on one file at a time.
If you select multiple files at the same time and attempt to edit, view, or rename them, the action will only be performed on the first file in the list.
⚠️ Files that are deleted are not normally permanently removed.
Instead, they are moved to the trash (Trash), where they can be restored later.
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you:
Have access to cPanel
Are logged into cPanel
Step 1: Log in to cPanel
If your hosting service supports direct login to cPanel, you can log in via the client area.
This is how you do it:
Find your hosting service under active products/services
Click on Log in on cPanel
You are now automatically logged into cPanel
Step 2: Open the File Manager
Find the Files section and click on File Manager
The system then opens the file overview for your account:
Step 3: Customize the settings
You can choose which folder the File Manager should open automatically:
Click on Settings in the upper right corner:
Select the default folder:
You can choose:
Home Directory
Web Root (public_html)
Public FTP Root (public_ftp)
Document root for a specific domain
You can also:
Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)
Disable Charatter Encoding Verification Dialogs
Click on Save to save the settings.
Summary
You have now learned how to access File Management in cPanel.
By using File Manager, you can manage files and folders directly from your browser without the need for FTP applications, making it easy to maintain the website and files on your web space.