Managing Files with cPanel’s File Manager
cPanel comes integrated with numerous tools and one of the most useful is the File Manager. This handy utility allows you to manage your files on the server via HTTP rather than a third-party FTP client such as FileZilla. It lets you upload files, create or delete files, create folders and more. In this tutorial we show you how to utilize some of the basic functions in the File Manager.
Creating a Folder
- To get started, locate and click on the “File Manager” icon in the “File” section of cPanel.
Once inside, you will find managing options at the top of the screen along with directories and folders on the left. The File Manager contains all your website files, therefore, creating folders allows for better structure and organization. You will find that this greatly simplifies the file maintenance process.
- To create a new folder, click on the “New Folder” link
- Next, enter a name for the new folder and specify the destination where it will be created.
- To finish up, simply click the “Create New Folder” button and the new folder will be listed in the specified location.
Upload Files
- To upload a new file, choose the folder you want to upload files to from the navigation pane on the left.
- Next, locate and click on the “Upload” icon at the top of the screen.
- In the next window, click “Browse” and locate the files you want to upload from your hard drive or storage media.
- Double-click on the desired file and the upload process will start immediately.
You can also upload multiple files by clicking on the “Add Another Upload Box” link. Simply repeat these steps for all the files you want to upload.
The files you upload to the server can be easily downloaded to your hard drive through the “Download” option.
Create New Files
Creating new files through the File Manager is simple, possibly easier than creating them on your PC.
- To get started, simply click on the “New File” link.
- Next, enter a name for the file you want to create. Be sure to add the appropriate extension. So if you create a PHP file, its extension will be .php.
- Choose the destination where you want the file to be saved.
- Lastly, click “Create New File” button and the file will be created.
Edit Files
The edit feature in the File Manager lets you make immediate changes without needing to upload new versions of your files. This is particularly useful for relatively small changes.
- Find the folder where the file is located and click it.
- Click on the “Edit” link at the top of the screen.
- When the new window displays, alter the text of the file to your specific needs
- After making the necessary alterations, click on the “Save Changes” button.
The changes you made should take effect immediately.
Additional Features
Other functions in the File Manager include advanced editors such as the Code and HTML Editor, Extract and Compression tools, and the ability change permissions for your files. For those users who don’t feel comfortable working with FTP tools, the File Manager in cPanel makes the perfect alternative.















