File Transfer with cPanel's File Manager

Home Customer Support Web Site Maintenance File Transfer with cPanel

File Transfer with cPanel's File Manager

CPanel's built-in file management system lets you create, delete, upload and download files, as well as manage file permissions. This method is different from FTP and doesn't require that you create an FTP connection. To access File Manager, simply log into your cPanel using the web address and credentials provided in your setup confirmation email. The login URL is your domain name followed by /cpanel. For example:

http://mydomain.com/cpanel

The username and password are typically your standard Webvalence username and password. If you've lost your confirmation email or are unsure of your login details, contact support@webvalence.com.

Choose your folder

In the home screen of your cPanel, look for the section labeled "Files." Then click on "File Manager." You will be asked which folder you'd like to open. In most cases, you'll choose "public_html," which is the standard folder where your website files are stored. If you have more than one website, choose the folder with the same name as the site you want to manage.

You will see something like the following:

On the left, you will see a list of your folders on the web server and on the right you will see the contents of the currently selected folder.

To navigate through your folder system, select a folder at left. Choose any relevant sub-folder at right and double click it to open it. Keep going until you reach the file you're looking for. To move back up to the folder that contains the one you're in, select "Up One Level" in the row of icons just above the file/folder pane.

Upload files

To upload a file from your computer to your website, make sure you're in the proper folder, which you can select at left and see the contents of at right.

Then click the button in the bar of icons at top that says "Upload."

You will see something like the following:

Click "Choose File" to browse your computer and select the file you want to upload.

Click "Overwrite existing files" to replace the copy of the file on the server with the one you've selected. An existing file in this case means a copy of the file on the server with an identical filename to the one you're uploading. Keep in mind that our server is case-sensitive, so myfile.html is different from MyFile.html.

Leave the permissions settings alone unless you know what you're doing.

Download files

To download a file from the server to your computer, navigate to the file you want to download and click on it to highlight it.

Click the "Download" button in the row of icons at the top of the File Manager window.

This will activate your web browser's standard download mechanism. This means the file will either end up automatically in the folder on your computer designated for downloads, or it will prompt you to select the folder into which you want to download the file. If the file goes to your regular downloads folder or desktop, you'll likely need to go find it and move it to the proper folder on your computer where you are storing your website's files.

A word about permissions

File Manager will allow you to adjust the permissions of your website's files and folders. Permissions are the settings that specify who is allowed to read, write, and execute (run) your files. Unless you know what you're doing, you should leave these permissions at their default settings, which are designed to protect your website from being hacked. Occasionally, you will install software or other files that will need their permissions modified in order to work. If you are being instructed to do this and are in doubt, please contact support@webvalence.com for advice.

 

 

Acceptable Use Policy · Code of Ethics · Contact