How to Use File Manager in cPanel

Introduction

File Manager in cPanel allows you to manage your website files directly from your browser without using FTP software. You can upload, edit, delete, move, compress, extract, and organize files for your website.

File Manager is one of the most commonly used tools for website management.

What You Can Do with File Manager

Using File Manager, you can:

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Open your cPanel login URL:

https://yourdomain.com:2083

or access cPanel through:

https://my.govaio.com/login

Enter your cPanel username and password.

Step 2: Open File Manager

After logging in:

  1. Navigate to the Files section

  2. Click File Manager

The File Manager interface will open in a new page.

Understanding File Manager Layout

The left sidebar displays your hosting directory structure.

Common folders include:

Folder

Purpose

public_html

Main website files

mail

Email account data

tmp

Temporary files

logs

Website logs

public_ftp

FTP uploads

Main File Area

The right side displays files and folders inside the selected directory.

You can:

Important Folder: public_html

Your primary website files should usually be uploaded inside:

public_html

Example:

public_html/index.php

or

public_html/index.html

Files placed outside public_html are generally not publicly accessible.

How to Upload Files

Method 1: Upload Single Files

  1. Open public_html

  2. Click Upload

  3. Select files from your computer

  4. Wait for upload completion

Method 2: Upload ZIP Archive

Uploading ZIP files is faster for large websites.

Steps:

  1. Click Upload

  2. Upload ZIP file

  3. Return to File Manager

  4. Right-click ZIP file

  5. Click Extract

Extract files into:

public_html

How to Create New Files

Create a New File

  1. Click + File

  2. Enter file name

Example:

index.html

  1. Click Create New File

How to Create Folders

  1. Click + Folder

  2. Enter folder name

Example:

images

  1. Click Create New Folder

How to Edit Files

You can directly edit website files inside File Manager.

Steps:

  1. Right-click file

  2. Click:

Example editable files:

How to Delete Files

  1. Select file or folder

  2. Click Delete

  3. Confirm deletion

Deleted files may move to Trash depending on server settings.

How to Move or Copy Files

Move Files

  1. Select file

  2. Click Move

  3. Enter destination path

Copy Files

  1. Select file

  2. Click Copy

  3. Enter target location

How to Compress Files

You can compress files to save storage or create backups.

Steps:

  1. Select files/folders

  2. Click Compress

  3. Choose:

How to Change File Permissions

Permissions control file access.

Type

Permission

Files

644

Folders

755

Change Permissions

  1. Right-click file

  2. Select Permissions

  3. Set permission values

Common Website Files

File

Purpose

index.php

Main PHP homepage

index.html

Static homepage

.htaccess

Apache configuration

wp-config.php

WordPress configuration

File Manager Tips

Common Errors & Solutions

1. 403 Forbidden Error

Cause:

Incorrect permissions.

Solution:

Set:

2. White Screen Website

Cause:

PHP errors or broken files.

Solution:

3. Upload Limit Error

Cause:

Hosting upload size limit.

Solution:

4. Website Not Updating

Cause:

Browser cache or CDN cache.

Solution:

Security Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Where should I upload my website files?

Upload files inside:

public_html

Q2. Can I upload WordPress manually?

Yes. Upload WordPress ZIP file and extract it inside public_html.

Q3. Can I edit PHP files in File Manager?

Yes. You can edit PHP, HTML, CSS, JS, and configuration files directly.

Q4. Is File Manager better than FTP?

For small tasks, File Manager is easier. For large transfers, FTP is recommended.

Need Help?

If you need assistance using File Manager in cPanel, contact support:

📧 support@govaio.com