> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.xynta.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Managing Files

**With File Manager in DirectAdmin you manage all files on your hosting plan directly through your browser — upload, edit, move, extract and more. Ideal for quick changes without needing an FTP client.**

|| This article applies to our [Web Hosting](https://www.xynta.com/en/webhosting) and [Reseller Hosting](https://www.xynta.com/en/reseller-hosting) plans (control panel DirectAdmin). Using [WordPress Hosting](https://www.xynta.com/en/wordpress-hosting) (Plesk)? Follow the article [Managing files – WordPress Hosting](https://help.xynta.com/en/article/managing-files-wordpress-hosting-1k35u6q/) instead.

* [Opening File Manager](#3-opening-file-manager)
* [Creating or uploading files and folders](#3-creating-or-uploading-files-and-folders)
* [Editing, downloading or copying files](#3-editing-downloading-or-copying-files)
* [Changing file and folder permissions](#3-changing-file-and-folder-permissions)
* [Extracting archive files](#3-extracting-archive-files)
* [Deleting files](#3-deleting-files)
* [Instructional video](#3-instructional-video)
* [When is FTP more convenient?](#3-when-is-ftp-more-convenient)

### Opening File Manager

The quickest way to access DirectAdmin is via Single Sign-On from [My xYnta](https://mijn.xynta.com) — no separate password needed. Prefer to log in manually? Then go to `https://yourdomain.com:2222`.

1. Log in to DirectAdmin — via [Single Sign-On](https://help.xynta.com/en/article/logging-in-to-hosting-package-via-single-sign-on-sso-1biycbb/) or directly on port **2222**.
2. Under **System Info & Files**, click **File Manager**.

You're now in File Manager. The `public_html` folder is your website's root directory — any file you place here is directly visible to visitors.

| For file and folder names, use only letters, digits, hyphens (`-`) or underscores (`_`). Avoid spaces, capital letters and special characters — these can cause issues with links and URLs.

### Creating or uploading files and folders

**Uploading files** — navigate to the folder where you want to upload, click the **plus icon** on the left and drag your files into the window. The upload starts immediately.

**Creating a folder** — navigate to the folder where you want to add a new one, click the **folder icon** on the left, enter a name and click **Create**.

**Creating an empty file** — navigate to the desired folder, click the **file icon** on the left, choose the file type, enter a name and click **Create**.

### Editing, downloading or copying files

**Editing a file** — right-click the file, choose **Edit**, make your changes and click **Save File**.

**Downloading a file** — right-click the file and choose **Download**.

**Copying or moving files or folders** — select what you want to copy, click the **dots icon** in the top right, choose **Copy/Move to…**, enter the new path and click **Copy**.

||| Files in `public_html` are changed **live immediately** and visible to visitors right away. Test major changes locally first if possible, or make a copy of the original file before editing it. Be extra careful with files like `.htaccess`, `wp-config.php` or `index.php` — a mistake in these can take your entire website offline.

### Changing file and folder permissions

File permissions determine who can read, write or execute a file. In most cases the default permissions are already correct and you don't need to change anything.

1. Select the files or folders whose permissions you want to change.
2. Click the **dots icon** in the top right and choose **Set Permissions**.
3. Enter the desired permissions — **644** for files and **755** for folders are the safe standard values.
4. Click **Save**.

||| **Never** use permissions `777` for files or folders. This grants everyone — including malicious parties — full access and is a major security risk.

### Extracting archive files

Uploaded an archive file (`.zip`, `.tgz` or `.tar.gz`)? You can extract it directly in File Manager — handy for large websites or backups.

1. Right-click the archive file.
2. Choose **Extract**.
3. Select the target folder and the files you want to extract.
4. Click **Extract**.

### Deleting files

1. Select the files or folders you want to delete.
2. Click the **dots icon** in the top right and choose **Delete**.
3. Want to delete permanently right away? Then disable **Move to Trash**.
4. Click **Delete**.

||| Deleted files **usually cannot be recovered**. When in doubt, first create a backup via the article [Creating your own backup](https://help.xynta.com/en/article/creating-your-own-backup-isxw3h/) or [restore from an existing backup](https://www.xynta.com/en/backups) before performing large delete actions.

### Instructional video

Prefer to see how it works? Watch our short instructional video on File Manager:

${youtube}[Managing files through File Manager](pvAGNQ38oLk)

### When is FTP more convenient?

Browser-based File Manager is ideal for quick changes. For larger tasks FTP is a better choice — for example when you:

* Upload or download many files at once — such as an entire website or a large media library.
* Need a stable connection for large uploads where a browser session may time out.
* Prefer to work from a client like FileZilla, Cyberduck or Transmit.

| Where possible, use **FTP over SSL (FTPS)** instead of plain FTP. Your login credentials and files are then transmitted encrypted. In most clients you can enable this via the **Require explicit FTP over TLS** or **FTPS** option.

You'll find your FTP details via the **FTP & SSH settings** button in the summary panel of the [website check](https://www.xynta.com/en/support/website-check), or in your [control panel](https://mijn.xynta.com).

Can't figure it out? [Feel free to get in touch](https://www.xynta.com/en/support/contact) — we're happy to help.