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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# Managing Files – WordPress Hosting

**With the Files section in Plesk you manage all files on your WordPress 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 [WordPress Hosting](https://www.xynta.com/en/wordpress-hosting) plans (control panel Plesk). Using [Web Hosting](https://www.xynta.com/en/webhosting) or [Reseller Hosting](https://www.xynta.com/en/reseller-hosting) (DirectAdmin)? Follow the article [Managing files through File Manager](https://help.xynta.com/en/article/managing-files-n5qi07/) instead.

* [Opening the Files section](#3-opening-the-files-section)
* [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 the Files section

To access the Files section, log in to Plesk using the server name your plan is on.

1. Log in to Plesk via `https://[servername].srvnl.nl:8443`. Replace **[servername]** with the name of the server your hosting plan is on.
2. In the left-hand menu, click **Files**.

You're now on the Files page. The `httpdocs` folder is your website's root directory — any file you place here is directly visible to visitors.

| Don't know which server your plan is on? See the article [How can I find the server name of my hosting package?](https://help.xynta.com/en/article/how-can-i-find-the-server-name-of-my-hosting-package-acx1d4/).

| 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 desired folder, click the **+ button** and choose **Upload File**. Select the files you want to upload and follow the progress. Click **Close** once the upload is complete.

**Creating a folder** — navigate to the folder where you want to add a new one, click the **+ button** and choose **Create Directory**. Enter a name and click **OK**.

**Creating an empty file** — navigate to the desired folder, click the **+ button** and choose **Create File**. Enter the file name including extension (for example `example.php`) and click **OK**.

### Editing, downloading or copying files

**Editing a file** — click the file name, make your changes and click **Save** or **Save & Continue**.

**Downloading a file** — click the **hamburger icon** next to the file and choose **Download**.

**Copying or moving files or folders** — select the files or folders, click **Copy** (or **Move**) at the top, choose the target folder and confirm.

||| Files in `httpdocs` 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. Click the **hamburger icon** next to the file or folder.
2. Choose **Change Permissions**.
3. Adjust the 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`)? You can extract it directly in Plesk — handy for large websites or backups.

1. Click the **hamburger icon** next to the archive file.
2. Choose **Extract Files**.
3. Want to overwrite existing files? Then tick **Replace Existing Files**.
4. Click **OK**.

### Deleting files

1. Select the files or folders you want to delete.
2. Click **Remove** at the top.
3. Want to delete permanently right away? Then tick **Skip the Recycle Bin**.
4. Click **Yes, remove**.

||| 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 the Files section in Plesk:

${youtube}[Managing files – WordPress Hosting](zftNTVPKUr4)

### When is FTP more convenient?

The browser-based Files section 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.