How to upload files with File Manager

Applies to: All plans (Self-Managed and Managed).

Before you start: You need access to your cPanel (open it by single sign-on from your client area -> Services -> My Services, then click Log in to cPanel) and the files you want to upload on your computer.

cPanel File Manager is a built-in tool for managing your website files straight from your browser — no extra software needed. This guide shows you how to upload files, extract a ZIP archive, and edit a file, plus where your website root lives.

Where your website files go

Your main website lives in the public_html folder. Anything you place directly in public_html is served at your primary domain. If you have addon domains or subdomains, each has its own document-root folder (typically inside public_html, depending on how it was set up when you created it).

Tip: If you only see a placeholder or "coming soon" page, your site files probably are not in public_html yet — that is exactly what this guide fixes.

Open File Manager

Log in to cPanel.
Go to cPanel -> Files -> File Manager.
In the left-hand folder tree, click public_html to open your website root.

Upload files

With public_html (or the correct subfolder) open, click the button labelled Upload in the top toolbar.
On the upload screen, click Select File (or drag your files onto the page) and choose the files from your computer.
Wait for each upload bar to reach 100%, then click the link to go back to File Manager.

Result: Your files now appear in the folder. Visit your domain in a browser to check they are live.

Uploading one file at a time can be slow for a whole site. For large sites, upload a single ZIP archive and extract it (below), or use FTP/SFTP instead — see How to connect over FTP or SFTP.

Extract a ZIP archive

Upload your .zip file into the folder where you want the contents.
Back in File Manager, click the .zip file once to select it.
Click the option labelled Extract in the top toolbar.
Confirm the destination path, then click Extract File(s).
Delete the leftover .zip afterwards to save space.

Tip: If your files extract into an extra sub-folder (for example public_html/mysite/) instead of directly in public_html, open that sub-folder, select everything, click Move, and move it up one level.

Edit a file

Click the file once to select it (a plain-text file such as .html, .php, .css or .htaccess).
Click the option labelled Edit (or Code Editor) in the top toolbar.
Make your changes, then click Save Changes at the top right.

Result: Your edit is live immediately. We run the LiteSpeed web server, so if you changed an .htaccess rule or a cached page, clear LiteSpeed Cache and re-check.

Watch your account limits

Files count toward your plan's disk space limit. There is no separate file-count (inode) limit. File Manager shows folder sizes, while your total disk usage against your plan allowance is in the cPanel statistics sidebar — see How to check your disk usage and file count. If you are near your disk limit, clear out old files or upgrade your plan.

Troubleshooting this task

Upload fails or stalls on a big file: very large single files can hit a PHP upload limit. Try a ZIP archive, or upload over FTP/SFTP instead.
Files uploaded but the site still shows the old page: check they are in public_html (not a sub-folder), confirm your index file is named index.html or index.php, and clear your browser and LiteSpeed cache.
"Disk full" or upload refused: you may be near your plan's disk space limit — clean up old files or upgrade your plan.
Hidden files like .htaccess are missing: click Settings (top right) and tick Show Hidden Files (dotfiles).