Zip and extract a folder in cPanel File Manager
File Manager uploads files. It does not upload a folder as a folder. Zip the folder on your computer, upload that one archive, then extract it. One archive finishes faster than hundreds of separate files.
- On your computer, compress the folder to a
.zip. cPanel Extract handles zip. Do not upload a.rarunless you already know Extract accepts it on this account. - Open cPanel, then Files, then File Manager. Go to the destination. The main site lives in
public_html. - Click Upload, choose the zip, and wait until the progress row shows complete. A cancelled row leaves a partial file.
- Back in File Manager, select the zip and click Extract. Confirm the path is the folder you opened, not a nested path you did not intend.
- Delete the zip after the files are in place, then open the site URL in a private window.
If the homepage is blank, the files are probably one folder too deep. The site files must sit in the document root, not inside an extra folder that the zip created.
Upload and extract the folder in cPanel step by step
Use File Manager when you are already in cPanel and the archive is small enough for the upload screen to accept it.
- Log in to cPanel. The panel login is separate from the WebJi client area, where invoices and tickets live.
- Open File Manager. If a settings box asks for the start directory, choose the web root for this domain.
- Confirm the path in the left column before you upload. The main domain uses
public_html. An addon domain uses the directory shown on the Domains screen. - Upload, extract, then reload the site. A cached browser tab can hide a successful upload, so check in a private window.
The same panel is documented on cPanel hosting. A wider tour of the file tools is in the cPanel File Manager guide.
Put the extracted folder in the right document root
A website folder belongs in the document root that the domain already uses. For the primary domain that folder is public_html. The homepage file, index.html or index.php, must sit directly in that folder, not inside public_html/mysite/, unless you want the site only at /mysite/.
Uploading a whole website is the same job: zip the site on your computer, extract it into public_html, and check that index.php or index.html is visible in that directory listing. If Extract created a single inner folder, move the files up one level or the domain will show a list, a 404, or the wrong page.
| Site type | Document root | Address it serves |
|---|---|---|
| Main domain | public_html | yourdomain.com |
| Addon domain | Its own folder inside public_html, often named after the domain | The addon domain name |
| Subdomain | The folder chosen when the subdomain was created | sub.yourdomain.com |
Upload large folders with FileZilla over SFTP
When the zip is larger than the upload screen allows, or you will sync the site often, use SFTP. In cPanel open FTP Accounts only if you need a limited user. The main cPanel username already connects.
In FileZilla set the protocol to SFTP, port 22, and the hostname from the welcome mail or the cPanel FTP Accounts page. Drag the local folder into the remote public_html. The connection steps are in how to upload a website using FTP.
FTP versus SFTP on ports 21 and 22
FTP on port 21 sends the password in the clear. SFTP on port 22 encrypts the login and the files. Use SFTP when the host offers it. The welcome mail for a cPanel account names port 22 for SFTP.
If FileZilla says the connection was refused on port 21, switch the protocol to SFTP and the port to 22 before you change the password.
Fix a cPanel folder upload that fails or times out
The upload page stops when the file is larger than the limit printed on that screen, or when the browser drops a long transfer. Split a huge site into more than one zip, or use SFTP, which is not tied to that page's timeout.
After a successful extract, directories should be 755 and files 644. If a page is forbidden, select the folder in File Manager, open Permissions, and set those values. Do not set 777.
Stop Extract from overwriting files in a live site
Extract writes files that share a name with files already in the folder. A zip can overwrite index.php or .htaccess if those names are in the archive. Read the file list before you extract into a live public_html.
Extract into an empty subfolder first when you are not sure. Move the checked files into place after the homepage in that subfolder looks right. If the live site breaks, restore the backup you took before the upload. That path is the cPanel backup and restore guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I upload a folder in cPanel?
Zip the folder on your computer, upload the zip with File Manager, and click Extract in the destination directory. Delete the zip after the files are in place.
Can File Manager upload folders directly?
No. The Upload button takes files, including a zip file. It does not take a folder from your computer as a folder. Extract is what recreates the folder on the server.
How do I upload multiple files at once?
Put them in one zip and extract it, or select several files on the upload screen if the set is small. A zip is the reliable way once the count gets into the hundreds.
Why does File Manager fail on big files?
The upload screen refuses a file larger than the limit it prints, and a long browser upload can time out. Use SFTP in FileZilla for a large archive.
How do I use FileZilla with cPanel?
Set protocol SFTP, port 22, the server hostname, and the cPanel username and password. Upload into public_html for the main domain.
Where do website files go in cPanel?
The primary domain uses public_html. An addon domain uses the directory listed for that domain. The homepage file must sit directly in that directory.
Is WebJi® an Indian company?
Yes. WebJi® is headquartered in Jaipur, Rajasthan and has operated since 2005. Billing, support and governance all run from India.
Do you provide GST invoices?
Every purchase and renewal gets a GST invoice with our GSTIN, and hosting prices are quoted exclusive of 18% GST. Claim input credit as applicable.