The File Manager in DirectAdmin lets you manage website files directly in your browser, without FTP software. Handy for quick changes.

Accessing File Manager

  1. Log in to DirectAdmin
  2. Go to File Manager in the menu
  3. You'll see the folder structure of your hosting

Understanding folder structure

/domains/yoursite.com/
├── public_html/    ← Website files (public)
├── private_html/   ← Secured files
├── logs/           ← Access and [error logs](https://support.theory7.net/hc/en-us/articles/1214-view-error-logs-in-directadmin)
└── stats/          ← Statistics

public_html is where your website files are located.

Uploading files

  1. Navigate to the correct folder (usually public_html)
  2. Click Upload Files or the upload icon
  3. Select files from your computer
  4. Wait for the upload to complete

Tip: For large files or many files, use FTP.

Editing files

  1. Navigate to the file
  2. Click on the file
  3. Click Edit or the pencil icon
  4. Make your changes in the text editor
  5. Click Save

Suitable for: HTML, CSS, PHP, .htaccess, config files.

Creating folders

  1. Navigate to the location
  2. Click Create Folder or New folder
  3. Enter the folder name
  4. Click Create

Deleting files

  1. Select the file/folder
  2. Click Delete or trash icon
  3. Confirm the action

Note: Deleted files are permanently gone!

Copying/Moving files

  1. Select the file
  2. Click Copy or Move
  3. Navigate to the destination folder
  4. Confirm the action

Changing permissions (CHMOD)

  1. Select the file/folder
  2. Click Permissions or CHMOD
  3. Set the correct permissions:
    • 644 for files
    • 755 for folders
  4. Click Save

Compressing/Extracting files

Create ZIP

  1. Select files/folders
  2. Click Compress
  3. Choose ZIP format
  4. Confirm

Extract ZIP

  1. Click on the ZIP file
  2. Click Extract
  3. Choose destination folder
  4. Confirm

Tips

  1. Backup first: Make a backup before big changes
  2. Use FTP for large uploads: File Manager has limits
  3. Be careful with permissions: Wrong permissions can break your site
  4. Don't edit WordPress core: Only use for theme/plugin files

Troubleshooting

File too large to upload

Use FTP for files larger than 50MB.

Cannot edit file

Check permissions or try via FTP.

Changes not visible

Clear your browser cache or refresh the page.

Need help?

We're here for you! Running into issues or have questions? Our support team is happy to help you personally. Drop us a message through the ticket system - we usually respond within a few hours and love helping you find the best solution.