--- title: "How to upload your website with the cPanel File Manager" description: "How to publish your website's files on your hosting using cPanel's File Manager, exactly where they should go and why the start file must be called index." url: "https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-enviar-seu-site-pelo-gerenciador-de-arquivos-do-cpanel" type: "article" language: "en" category: "cPanel" published: "2026-09-02" translations: pt-BR: "https://redhosting.com.br/base-de-conhecimento/como-enviar-seu-site-pelo-gerenciador-de-arquivos-do-cpanel.md" en: "https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-enviar-seu-site-pelo-gerenciador-de-arquivos-do-cpanel.md" es: "https://redhosting.com.br/es/base-de-conhecimento/como-enviar-seu-site-pelo-gerenciador-de-arquivos-do-cpanel.md" de: "https://redhosting.com.br/de/base-de-conhecimento/como-enviar-seu-site-pelo-gerenciador-de-arquivos-do-cpanel.md" --- # How to upload your website with the cPanel File Manager How to publish your website's files on your hosting using cPanel's File Manager, exactly where they should go and why the start file must be called index. - RedHosting knowledge base guide — category: cPanel - HTML page: https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-enviar-seu-site-pelo-gerenciador-de-arquivos-do-cpanel - Published on: 2026-09-02 · Language: en Publishing a website means putting its files in the right folder on the server. cPanel does this in your browser, with no FTP program and no command line. ## 1. Where the files go The folder is `public_html`. Everything inside it is visible on the internet; everything outside it isn't. - For the **main domain**, files go directly into `public_html`. - For an **addon domain**, they go into `public_html/domain-name` — the folder is created automatically when you add the domain. ⚠️**Common mistake**: Uploading a folder named after the site into public_html. The site then answers at yourdomain.com/my-folder instead of yourdomain.com. The content has to sit loose inside public_html. ## 2. Uploading the files - Log in to cPanel and, under **Files**, click **File Manager**. - In the left column, click **public_html**. - Click **Upload** in the top bar. A new tab opens. - Drag the files into the indicated area or click **Select File**. - Wait for each file's bar to reach 100% and go back to the File Manager. ## 3. The shortcut for big sites: upload a .zip Uploading hundreds of files one by one is slow and fails halfway. The fast way: - On your computer, compress the site's **contents** into a `.zip` file — the files, not the folder containing them. - Upload just that `.zip` to `public_html`. - Back in the File Manager, right-click the file and choose **Extract**. - Confirm the destination as `/public_html` and click **Extract Files**. - **Delete the .zip** after extracting. It keeps taking up space and stays accessible from the internet. ## 4. The start file must be called index The server looks, in this order, for `index.html`, `index.htm` and `index.php`. If none exists, visitors see a file listing or a 403 error instead of the site. If your home page is called `home.html` or `site.html`, rename it to `index.html`: right-click the file → **Rename**. ## 5. If the hosting's default page shows up New hosting comes with a sample file in `public_html`, usually `index.html` or `default.html`. It takes priority over yours. Delete it before uploading your site, or visitors will keep seeing the sample page. ## 6. Permissions In most cases you don't need to touch them. When something won't open, the correct defaults are: - **Folders**: `755` - **Files**: `644` To adjust: right-click → **Change Permissions**. ⚠️**Never use 777**: Permission 777 makes the file writable by any process on the server. It's the most common way sites get hacked — and it's almost never the real fix for the problem that led someone to suggest it. ## 7. Uploading via FTP, if you prefer For frequent updates, an FTP program like FileZilla is more comfortable. Create the account under **Files** → **FTP Accounts** in cPanel and connect with: - **Host**: the server address, or your domain if it's already pointed. - **Port**: 21. - **Username and password**: those of the FTP account you created. ## 8. After publishing - **Enable SSL** — [How to enable free SSL in cPanel](/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-ativar-o-ssl-gratuito-no-cpanel). - If the site uses a database — WordPress, Laravel, any PHP app with data — create the database before opening the installer: [How to create a MySQL database](/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-criar-um-banco-de-dados-mysql-no-cpanel). ## Need help? Open a ticket at [financeiro.redhosting.com.br](https://financeiro.redhosting.com.br) or contact support on WhatsApp at **+55 11 98833-3902**. ## Frequently asked questions **Which folder should I put my site's files in?** In `public_html`, for the main domain. For an addon domain, in `public_html/domain-name`. **I uploaded everything and the hosting's default page shows up. Why?** There's a sample file in public_html that takes priority over yours. Delete the index.html or default.html that came with the account. **My site shows a file listing instead of the page. What's missing?** The start file must be called `index.html`, `index.htm` or `index.php`. If your page is called home.html, rename it. **How do I upload a site with lots of files?** Compress the contents into a .zip, upload only that to public_html and use the File Manager's Extract option. Delete the .zip after extracting. **Should I use permission 777?** No. The correct defaults are 755 for folders and 644 for files. Permission 777 makes the file writable by any process on the server and is one of the most common ways sites get hacked. ## Navigation — cPanel (article 3 of 6) - Previous article: [How to point your domain to RedHosting](https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-apontar-seu-dominio-para-a-redhosting.md) — https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-apontar-seu-dominio-para-a-redhosting - Next article: [How to enable free SSL in cPanel](https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-ativar-o-ssl-gratuito-no-cpanel.md) — https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-ativar-o-ssl-gratuito-no-cpanel - Back to the knowledge base: https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento --- Need help with these steps? RedHosting's 24/7 support: suporte@redhosting.com.br · WhatsApp +55 11 98833-3902 · https://redhosting.com.br/discord More guides: https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento.md