File manager

This guide covers how website files are organised, where to upload them, how to extract a ZIP archive, and how to set safe file permissions.

Before you begin

• A signed-in Hosting and Reseller Panel. See Log in and find your way around.
• The website files you want to upload, ideally in a ZIP archive or as individual files.
• A backup of any existing site, if you are replacing files. See Website backups.

Steps

Understand the layout

1. Open the File manager from the main menu.
2. Your account has a home folder. The folder named public_html holds the files that the public web address shows.
3. Other folders, such as mail or logs, are for the panel's own use. Do not move or delete them.

Upload files

1. Open public_html, or the folder for the domain you are working on.
2. Choose the upload option and select your files. For many files, upload a ZIP archive.
3. Wait until the upload finishes, then check the file list.

Extract a ZIP archive

1. Select the ZIP file in the folder.
2. Choose the extract option and confirm the destination folder.
3. Delete the ZIP file after you check that the extracted files are correct.

Set permissions

1. Select a file or folder and open its permissions setting.
2. Use 755 for folders and 644 for ordinary files, unless your application documentation asks for something else.
3. Do not use 777. It lets anyone change the files.

Main page names

The web server looks for a main page with a name such as index.html or index.php. Keep one of these names in public_html for the home page.

Expected result

Your files appear in public_html, the home page opens at your domain, and the permissions are set to the safe values above.

If something goes wrong

• The home page shows 403. Check the permissions. Read File permission problems.
• The home page shows 404. Check that the main page is in public_html and has the correct name.
• The site shows a 500 error. Check the error log in Resource usage and logs, then read WordPress white screen or 500 error.
• The upload stops. Try a smaller ZIP archive, or upload through FTP and SFTP.

Related articles

• FTP and SFTP
• Website backups
• File permission problems
• Website not opening

Last reviewed

2026-10-27