What is the DirectAdmin File Manager?

The DirectAdmin File Manager is a browser-based file management tool that allows you to manage your website files directly through DirectAdmin without needing separate FTP software. You can upload files, create folders, edit code, set permissions, compress and extract archives, and more.

The File Manager is particularly useful for quick edits, uploading small files, troubleshooting, and managing your website when you don't have FTP access available.

Accessing the File Manager

  1. Log in to DirectAdmin through the client area
  2. On the DirectAdmin dashboard, look for the File Management section
  3. Click File Manager
  4. The File Manager will open showing your account's root directory

Understanding the directory structure

When you first open the File Manager, you will see several folders. The most important directories are:

  • public_html/ — Your website files go here. This is the web root for your primary domain
  • domains/ — Contains subfolders for any addon domains you have created
  • backups/ — Stores backup files created through DirectAdmin
  • imap/ — Email storage (do not modify directly)
  • .htpasswd and other dotfiles — Configuration files (usually hidden)

Important: Your website files must be uploaded to the public_html folder (or the equivalent folder for addon domains) to be visible on the web. Files uploaded to your account root directory will not be accessible via your website.

Uploading files

Upload via the File Manager interface

  1. Navigate to the folder where you want to upload files (usually public_html)
  2. Click the Upload button in the toolbar at the top
  3. Click Select Files or drag and drop files into the upload area
  4. Select one or more files from your computer
  5. The files will begin uploading immediately
  6. Once complete, click Back to File Manager to see your uploaded files

The File Manager supports uploading multiple files at once. For large websites or many files, FTP is faster and more reliable.

Upload size limits

The File Manager has a maximum upload size per file (typically 256MB). If you need to upload larger files:

  • Use FTP instead (no upload size limit)
  • Compress the files into a .zip archive, upload the archive, then extract it in the File Manager
  • Contact support if you need assistance with large file uploads

Creating new files and folders

Create a new folder

  1. Navigate to where you want to create the folder
  2. Click the Create Folder or New Directory button
  3. Enter the folder name (no spaces recommended; use hyphens or underscores)
  4. Click Create

Create a new file

  1. Navigate to where you want to create the file
  2. Click Create File
  3. Enter the filename including the extension (e.g., index.html, style.css, config.php)
  4. Click Create
  5. The file will be created empty. Click on it to edit

Editing files

The DirectAdmin File Manager includes a built-in code editor for editing HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, and other text-based files.

  1. Navigate to the file you want to edit
  2. Click on the filename or select it and click Edit
  3. The file will open in the editor
  4. Make your changes
  5. Click Save at the bottom to save the file
  6. Click Close to return to the File Manager

Caution: Always make a backup before editing important files like .htaccess, wp-config.php, or database configuration files. A single syntax error can break your website.

Deleting files and folders

  1. Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to delete by checking the box next to each item
  2. Click the Delete button in the toolbar
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted

Warning: Deleted files cannot be recovered unless you have a backup. Be careful when deleting files, especially in the public_html directory.

Moving and copying files

Move files

  1. Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to move
  2. Click Move in the toolbar
  3. Enter the destination path (e.g., /public_html/images/)
  4. Click Move to confirm

Copy files

  1. Select the file(s) you want to copy
  2. Click Copy
  3. Enter the destination path
  4. Click Copy to confirm

Renaming files

  1. Click on the filename or select it and click Rename
  2. Enter the new filename
  3. Click Rename to confirm

Be careful when renaming files that are linked in your website code. Renaming a file will break any links pointing to the old filename.

Working with compressed files (zip archives)

Extract (unzip) an archive

If you have uploaded a .zip, .tar.gz, or other compressed file:

  1. Navigate to where the archive is located
  2. Select the archive file
  3. Click Extract in the toolbar
  4. Choose where to extract the files (usually "Extract here" to extract in the current directory)
  5. Click Extract
  6. The files will be extracted and appear in the File Manager

Create a zip archive

  1. Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to compress
  2. Click Compress in the toolbar
  3. Choose the compression format (usually .zip)
  4. Enter a name for the archive
  5. Click Compress
  6. The compressed file will appear in the current directory

Creating archives is useful for backing up files or preparing files to download.

Downloading files

  1. Navigate to the file you want to download
  2. Select the file
  3. Click Download in the toolbar
  4. The file will download to your computer

To download an entire folder, compress it into a .zip file first, then download the archive.

File and folder permissions

File permissions control who can read, write, and execute files on the server. Incorrect permissions can cause security issues or make your website inaccessible.

Viewing permissions

In the File Manager, you will see a permissions column showing values like 755 or 644.

Changing permissions

  1. Select the file or folder
  2. Click Permissions or Change Permissions
  3. Set the desired permissions using the checkboxes or enter the numeric value
  4. Click Save

Recommended permissions

  • Folders: 755 (rwxr-xr-x)
  • Files: 644 (rw-r--r--)
  • Configuration files (e.g., wp-config.php): 600 or 640
  • Never use 777: This makes files writable by anyone and is a major security risk

Showing hidden files

Files starting with a dot (e.g., .htaccess) are hidden by default. To view them:

  1. Look for a Settings, Options, or Show Hidden Files option in the File Manager toolbar
  2. Enable Show Hidden Files or Show Dotfiles
  3. The File Manager will refresh and display hidden files

Common hidden files include:

  • .htaccess — Apache configuration file for redirects, URL rewriting, and security rules
  • .htpasswd — Password file for password-protected directories
  • .user.ini — PHP configuration overrides

Common File Manager tasks for WordPress

Upload WordPress files

  1. Download WordPress from wordpress.org
  2. Extract the .zip file on your computer
  3. In DirectAdmin File Manager, navigate to public_html
  4. Upload all the extracted WordPress files to public_html
  5. Run the WordPress installer by visiting your domain in a browser

Edit wp-config.php

  1. Navigate to public_html (or wherever WordPress is installed)
  2. Click on wp-config.php to edit it
  3. Make your changes (e.g., database details, debug settings)
  4. Save and close

Edit .htaccess for WordPress permalinks

  1. Enable Show Hidden Files
  2. Navigate to public_html
  3. Click on .htaccess to edit
  4. Add or modify rewrite rules as needed
  5. Save and test your website

Limitations of the File Manager

The File Manager is convenient but has some limitations compared to FTP:

  • Speed: Uploading and downloading large files or many files is slower than FTP
  • Upload size limit: Individual file uploads are capped (typically 256MB)
  • Timeout: Long operations may time out if your connection is slow
  • Bulk operations: FTP clients handle mass file operations more efficiently

For large websites, routine backups, or bulk file operations, use FTP instead. See our FTP account setup guide for details.

Troubleshooting File Manager issues

Files not appearing on website

If you uploaded files but they are not visible on your website:

  • Ensure files were uploaded to public_html, not the account root directory
  • Check that the filename is correct (Linux servers are case-sensitive: Index.html is different from index.html)
  • Clear your browser cache and refresh the page
  • Check file permissions (should be 644 for files, 755 for folders)

Cannot edit a file

If you cannot edit a file:

  • Check file permissions (you need write permissions)
  • The file may be locked or in use by another process
  • Try downloading the file, editing it locally, and re-uploading

Upload fails or times out

If file uploads fail:

  • The file may exceed the upload size limit — compress it or use FTP
  • Your internet connection may have dropped during upload
  • Your account may be at its disk space limit
  • Check DirectAdmin for any disk quota warnings

Best practices

  • Back up before editing: Always download a backup copy before editing critical files
  • Use descriptive names: Name files clearly with no spaces (use hyphens or underscores)
  • Organise with folders: Keep your files organised in folders (e.g., /images/, /css/, /js/)
  • Set correct permissions: Use 644 for files and 755 for folders
  • Never use 777 permissions: This is a major security risk
  • Keep your public_html clean: Delete unused files and old backups to save disk space

When to use FTP instead

Consider using FTP for:

  • Uploading entire websites or large projects
  • Uploading files larger than 256MB
  • Syncing files between your computer and the server
  • Automated backups or deployments
  • More reliable uploads over slow or unstable connections

See our FTP account setup guide for instructions on setting up FTP access.

Getting help

If you need assistance with file management, uploading your website, or troubleshooting file-related issues, contact 0724 Hosting support. We can help diagnose issues, fix permissions, recover files from backups, and provide guidance on best practices.