Upload your website
Put your website files on your hosting with cPanel File Manager or an FTP client.
You can upload your website files in two ways: the File Manager inside cPanel, or an FTP client on your computer. Both put your files into the same place on the server.
Where files go#
For your main domain, website files go in the folder called public_html. Whatever is in this folder is what visitors see. Your home page should be named index.html or index.php.
Option 1: File Manager#
- Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.
- Open the
public_htmlfolder. - Click Upload and choose your files.
- To upload many files at once, compress them into a
.zipfile on your computer, upload it, then right-click it and choose Extract.
File Manager is the easiest choice for small sites and quick edits.
Option 2: FTP#
FTP is handy for larger sites or frequent updates. You need an FTP client program, and these details:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | Your domain name, or the host shown in your service details |
| Username | Your FTP account name |
| Password | The password for that FTP account |
| Port | 21 (or as shown in cPanel) |
| Encryption | Use explicit TLS if your client offers it |
Create an FTP account in cPanel under FTP Accounts. cPanel also shows the exact connection settings for each account.
Installing a CMS#
If you use a system such as WordPress, check whether cPanel offers an installer for it in your account. Otherwise upload the files by hand and create a database under Manage My Databases.
After uploading#
- Visit your domain to check the site.
- Check Install and renew SSL so your site loads over HTTPS.
- Keep a copy of your files on your own computer, see Backups and restoring.
Moving a site that already exists elsewhere? We can help, see Migrating an existing website.