How To Use File Manager in cPanel

The File Manager is basically the “en suite” web application of cPanel that’s used for managing and manoeuvring the files on your personal computer. Essentially, the File Manager permits the user to administer his website via “HTTP” more willingly than an ‘FTP’ tool or any other 3rd party application. Using the File Manager in cPanel, one can create or delete files, upload, remove, edit, copy, move, compress/extract files, change file permissions, and organize files in folders. Even though cPanel File Manager is not as refined as most FTP tools, it offers all the essential functionality required to manage your website. File Manager is a speedy and trouble-free way to steer through your files on the website.

For the most part, users feel comfortable using the file manager tool of the cPanel. Generally speaking, cPanel endows numerous ways your files can be manipulated in the File Manager.

Steps to use File Manager in cPanel for various operations

The demo given here has been done by assuming that the user had already logged in to the cPanel. To facilitate login to the cPanel, just type your domain “URL” in your browser window and add “/cPanel” at the end of the URL.

When you log into your cPanel, you will be taken to the home page. On the home page, you can find various sections to perform different unique operations.

1. Click the ‘File Manager’ icon under the’ Files’ section. You will be taken to the “Directory Selection” by clicking the file manager icon. Now, you will notice a dialogue box that asks where you wish to log in. To go immediately to your “public_html” folder with your account files, choose “Web Root”.

2) Click the ‘Go’ button on the bottom. Now, you will be taken to the ‘File Manager’ interface where you can do several functions such as, upload all the files to your account, change the file permissions, delete files etc. Basically, the left section of the cPanel File manager is the “Directory Listing”. On the left side of the files manager interface, you can find a collapsible listing of all the folders (directories) available in your account. Now, click a folder on the left side. In our case, the ‘public_html’ folder is been clicked.

3) Now, on the right side, you can find a list of all folders & files inside the folder that is chosen on the left side. This right section is basically the “File Listing”. So, your website files (html pages, gif images, etc) should go into the ‘public_html’ folder.

4) Hence, click on the “public_html” folder now.

5) Now, click on the “Upload” button above on the top of the File manager tool bar. You can make use of this function to upload files to your account and to set their permissions.

6) As a next step, we are going to create a new folder which is quite simple as generating a new file. In the cPanel file manager, click on the “New Folder” button that is placed on the File Manager tool bar. Basically, the New Folder button generates a new folder in which your files can be stored.

7) As soon as you click on the “New Folder” button, a dialogue box will pop up. Type the New folder name (in this case “newfolder’) in the space provided to describe the location where it needs to be created. Then, click the “Create New Folder” button. Now, you can see that the new folder has appeared in your preferred location.

8) Now, in order to create a new file, click on the “New file” button above on the tool bar of the ‘File Manager’ interface. Basically, the New File button generates a new file with a “user-defined” file extension.

9) Now, a dialogue box will pop up. Enter the new file name (in this case “newfile.html’) in the space provided. Please remember to enter the right extension. Select a specific destination where the file needs to be saved. Now click on the “Create New file” button. Voila!! The file is successfully created.

10) In the same way, you may also use cPanel File Manager interface to change the permissions of your files/ folders. Just click on the “change permission” button on the ‘File Manager’ tool bar to do so.

On the whole, the cPanel File Manager interface makes the process of managing the files & folders in your account into a simple one when you actually don’t have an access to an FTP tool. Hope this demo has clearly explained the process of using File Manager in cPanel!