File Management

Understanding the httpdocs Directory Structure in Plesk

The httpdocs directory is the web root of your website in Plesk — every file placed here is accessible to visitors via your domain. Understanding this structure is essential for managing your website. Key Directories - httpdocs/ — The web root. Files here are publicly accessible. This is where your index.html or index.php should go. - httpdocs/cgi-bin/ — Directory for CGI scripts. - error_docs/ — Custom error pages (404, 500, etc.). Edit these to customise error pages for your visitors. - logs/ — Access and error logs for your website. Common Website Files - index.html or index.php — The default homepage. The server loads this file when someone visits your domain. - .htaccess — Apache configuration for URL rewrites, redirects, and security rules. - robots.txt — Search engine crawling instructions. - sitemap.xml — Sitemap for search engines. - wp-config.php — WordPress configuration (if WordPress is installed). WordPress File Structure If WordPress is installed, the httpdocs directory will contain: - wp-admin/ — WordPress admin area. - wp-content/ — Themes, plugins, and uploaded files. - wp-includes/ — WordPress core files (do not modify). Important Notes - Files stored outside httpdocs are not web-accessible — useful for storing sensitive configuration files. - Always back up httpdocs before making major changes. - Subdomains are stored in their own directories (e.g., subdomain/httpdocs/). Troubleshooting "Index of /" page instead of website: - No index.html or index.php file exists in httpdocs. Upload your website files. Changes to files not showing: - Clear your browser cache. - If using Cloudflare or a CDN, purge the cache.

How to Edit Files in the Plesk File Manager

The Plesk File Manager includes built-in text and code editors, so you can edit files directly on the server without downloading and re-uploading them. This is useful for making quick changes to configuration files, PHP scripts, or HTML pages. Editing a File 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains → click your domain → Files. 3. Navigate to the file you want to edit. 4. Hover over the file and click the context menu (three dots). 5. Click Edit in Code Editor (for code files) or Edit in Rich Editor (for HTML with a visual editor). 6. Make your changes in the editor. 7. Click Save or OK to apply the changes. Creating a New File 1. In File Manager, navigate to the directory where you want to create the file. 2. Click New → Create File. 3. Enter the file name (e.g., test.php or .htaccess). 4. Click OK. 5. The file will be created and opened in the editor. Important Notes - Changes take effect immediately after saving. - Always back up a file before editing (right-click → Copy and rename the copy). - The Code Editor supports syntax highlighting for PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web languages. - For files larger than 1 MB, downloading and editing locally is recommended. Troubleshooting "Edit" option is not available for a file: - The file type may not be supported by the editor. Download and edit locally. Website breaks after editing a file: - Restore from your backup copy. - Check for syntax errors in your code.

How to Change File Permissions in the Plesk File Manager

File permissions control who can read, write, and execute files on your hosting account. Incorrect permissions can cause website errors or security vulnerabilities. This guide covers how to view and change file permissions in Plesk. Changing File Permissions 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains → click your domain → Files. 3. Hover over the file or folder you want to modify. 4. Click the context menu (three dots) → Change Permissions. 5. Set the permissions using the checkboxes for Read, Write, and Execute for each level (Owner, Group, Others). 6. Click OK to save. Recommended Permission Values - Files: 644 (Owner: read+write, Group: read, Others: read) - Directories: 755 (Owner: read+write+execute, Group: read+execute, Others: read+execute) - Configuration files: 644 or 600 (only owner can read and write) Setting Permissions Recursively If the Permissions Recursive extension is installed: 1. Hover over a directory. 2. Click Set Permissions Recursive. 3. Set separate permissions for folders and files within the directory. 4. Click OK. Important Notes - Never set permissions to 777 — this is a serious security risk. - If your site shows 500 errors after changing permissions, reset files to 644 and directories to 755. - Permission changes take effect immediately. Troubleshooting "Permission denied" error: - Set the file or directory to at least 644 (files) or 755 (directories). Website shows 500 error: - Check .htaccess permissions — should be 644, not 777.

How to Search for Files in the Plesk File Manager

The Plesk File Manager includes a search tool that lets you find files by name or content. This is useful when you need to locate a specific file in a large directory structure or find files containing specific text. Searching by File Name 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains → click your domain → Files. 3. Click the Search icon (magnifying glass) at the top of the file list. 4. Type the file name or part of the name you are looking for. 5. Click the search options icon to choose the search type: - Filename only: Searches for matching file and folder names. - Content only: Searches for text inside files. - Filename and content: Searches both. 6. Press Enter or click Search. 7. Results will appear in the file list. Searching by File Content To find files containing specific text (e.g., a configuration value or error message): 1. Open the search options and select Content only or Filename and content. 2. Enter the text you want to search for. 3. Press Enter. 4. File Manager will scan all files in the current directory and subdirectories. Tips for Efficient Searching - Search from the root directory (go up to /) to search across all files on your account. - Use Filename only for faster results when you know the file name. - Content searches can be slow for large accounts with many files. Important Notes - Content search may not work with binary files (images, PDFs, compiled files). - Search results are limited to files within your subscription directory. Troubleshooting Search returns no results: - Verify the file name or text is correct. - Ensure you are searching in the correct directory (navigate to the root first). Search is very slow: - Use Filename only instead of content search for faster results. - Contact your hosting provider if searches consistently time out.

How to Compress and Extract Files in Plesk File Manager

Plesk File Manager lets you compress files into archives and extract uploaded archives directly on the server. This is much faster than downloading, zipping locally, and re-uploading. How to compress files 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains and click File Manager for your domain. 3. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to compress. 4. Tick the checkboxes next to the files and/or folders you want to include. 5. Click the Archive button in the toolbar. 6. Choose the archive format — ZIP is recommended for maximum compatibility. 7. Enter a name for the archive file. 8. Click OK. The archive will be created in the current directory. You can then download it or move it elsewhere. How to extract files from an archive 1. In File Manager, navigate to the folder containing the archive. 2. Tick the checkbox next to the archive file. 3. Click Extract Files in the toolbar. 4. If there are files with the same names in the directory, tick Replace existing files to overwrite them. 5. Click OK. The contents of the archive will be extracted into the current directory. Supported archive formats - Creating archives: ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ - Extracting archives: ZIP, RAR, TAR, TGZ, TAR.GZ Tips - Uploading a website? Compress the files on your computer first, upload the single archive via File Manager, then extract it on the server. This is significantly faster than uploading hundreds of individual files. - Making a quick backup? Select all files in httpdocs, compress to ZIP, and download the archive. - Large archives may take a moment to extract — don’t navigate away until the process completes. Troubleshooting - Extract Files button is greyed out: Make sure you’ve selected (ticked) the archive file, not just clicked on it. - Extraction fails: The archive may be corrupted. Try re-uploading it. If it’s a RAR file, ensure it wasn’t created with RAR5 format, which older server versions may not support. - Files missing after extraction: Check if they were extracted into a subfolder inside the archive.

How to Copy or Move Files Between Directories in Plesk

Plesk File Manager makes it easy to copy or move files and folders between directories without needing FTP or SSH access. Here’s how to do it. How to copy files to another directory 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains and click File Manager for your domain. 3. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to copy. 4. Tick the checkboxes next to the files and/or folders. 5. Click the Copy button in the toolbar. 6. In the dialog that appears, browse to or type the destination directory path. 7. If you want to overwrite files with the same names, tick Replace existing files. 8. Click OK. The original files remain in place, and copies are created in the destination folder. How to move files to another directory 1. In File Manager, navigate to the folder containing the files. 2. Tick the checkboxes next to the files and/or folders you want to move. 3. Click the Move button in the toolbar. 4. Browse to or type the destination directory path. 5. If you want to overwrite files with the same names, tick Replace existing files. 6. Click OK. The files are removed from the original location and placed in the destination folder. The difference between Copy and Move - Copy — creates a duplicate. The original file stays where it is. - Move — relocates the file. The original is removed from the source directory. Important notes - You can select multiple files and folders at once before clicking Copy or Move. - The destination path is relative to your hosting root. For example, to move a file into your website’s root, the path would typically be /httpdocs/. - Moving core website files (like .htaccess or web.config) can break your site. Be careful what you move. - If you don’t see the Copy or Move buttons, make sure at least one file is selected (checkbox ticked). Troubleshooting - Files aren’t appearing in the destination: Refresh File Manager and double-check the destination path. A typo in the path means the files may end up in an unexpected location. - “Permission denied” error: You may be trying to copy/move files outside your allowed directory. Contact your hosting provider if you need access to other areas. - Only one file moved when multiple were selected: This is a known issue in older Plesk versions. Update to the latest version, or move files one at a time as a workaround.

How to Upload Files to Plesk via FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is one of the fastest ways to upload large numbers of files to your website. This guide covers creating an FTP account in Plesk and connecting with an FTP client. Step 1: Find your FTP connection details You will need these details to connect: - Host: Your domain name (e.g. yourdomain.com) or server IP address (shown at the top of your Plesk dashboard). - Port: 21 (default FTP port). - Username & Password: Your Plesk login credentials, or a dedicated FTP account (see below). Step 2: Create an additional FTP account (optional) Your main Plesk login already has FTP access. If you need to give someone else access, or restrict access to a specific folder: 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains > your domain > FTP Access. 3. Click Add an FTP Account. 4. Enter an FTP account name (this becomes the username). 5. Set the Home directory — click the folder icon to browse. Select httpdocs to give access to the website root only. 6. Set a strong password. You can click Generate to create one automatically. 7. Click OK. Step 3: Connect with an FTP client We recommend FileZilla (free, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux). Download it from filezilla-project.org. 1. Open FileZilla. 2. In the Quickconnect bar at the top, enter: - Host: your domain name or server IP - Username: your FTP username - Password: your FTP password - Port: 21 3. Click Quickconnect. 4. If prompted about a certificate, click OK to accept it. 5. On the left panel, navigate to the files on your computer. On the right panel, navigate to httpdocs (your website root). 6. Drag files from left to right to upload, or right to left to download. Important notes - Use FTPS when possible. Standard FTP sends data unencrypted. Most FTP clients support FTPS (FTP over TLS) — select it in your connection settings for better security. - Upload website files to httpdocs. This is the document root for your domain. Files placed here are publicly accessible via your website URL. - Large uploads? FTP handles hundreds of files more reliably than the browser-based File Manager. Troubleshooting - Connection timed out: Check that your server IP or domain is correct. Ensure port 21 is not blocked by your local firewall or network. - “Login incorrect” error: Double-check the username and password. If you created a separate FTP account, use that full username (it may include the domain, e.g. ftpuser@yourdomain.com). - Files uploaded but website not updating: Make sure you uploaded to the correct directory (httpdocs). Clear your browser cache and try again. - Can’t delete or overwrite files: Check file permissions. You may need to adjust them in Plesk File Manager.

How to Password-Protect a Directory in Plesk

Password-protected directories restrict access to specific folders on your website. Visitors must enter a username and password before they can view anything inside the protected folder. This is useful for client portals, staging areas, or private downloads. How to create a password-protected directory 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains and find your domain. 3. Click Password-Protected Directories. 4. Click Add Protected Directory. 5. In the Directory name field, type the path to the folder you want to protect (relative to your document root). For example: private to protect httpdocs/private. - To protect your entire website, enter /. 6. Optionally, enter a Title of the protected area — this is the message visitors see in the login prompt. 7. Click OK. Note: On Plesk for Linux, the directory will be created automatically if it doesn’t exist yet. How to add users to the protected directory A protected directory with no users means nobody can access it. You need to add at least one user: 1. In the Password-Protected Directories list, click the name of the directory you just protected. 2. Click Add a User. 3. Enter a Username and Password. 4. Click OK. You can add multiple users if different people need access. Each user gets their own login credentials. How to test it Open your browser and navigate to the protected URL (e.g. https://yourdomain.com/private/). You should see a login prompt asking for a username and password. How to remove password protection 1. Go to Websites & Domains > Password-Protected Directories. 2. Tick the checkbox next to the directory. 3. Click Remove Protection. 4. Confirm the removal. The directory and its files will remain on the server — only the password protection is removed. Important notes - Protecting a parent directory automatically protects all subdirectories beneath it. - Don’t include httpdocs in the directory name — just enter the folder name relative to the document root. - Password protection uses HTTP Basic Authentication (.htpasswd). It’s secure over HTTPS but credentials are sent in plain text over HTTP. Always use SSL on your domain. Troubleshooting - Login prompt doesn’t appear: Clear your browser cache and try in an incognito window. If Apache restart intervals are configured on your server, protection may not take effect until the next restart. - “401 Unauthorized” even with correct credentials: Remove the user and re-add them with a new password. Ensure there are no special characters in the password that may cause issues. - Want to change a user’s password? Click the directory name, then click the username, and set a new password.

How to Rename Files and Directories in Plesk

Renaming files and directories in Plesk File Manager is quick and straightforward. This guide walks you through the process. How to rename a file 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains and click File Manager for your domain. 3. Navigate to the folder containing the file you want to rename. 4. Hover over the file name to reveal additional options. Click the small dropdown arrow (or right-click menu icon) that appears next to the file. 5. Select Rename. 6. Type the new file name in the text field. 7. Click OK. The file is renamed immediately. How to rename a directory The process is identical to renaming a file: 1. In File Manager, find the directory you want to rename. 2. Hover over the directory name and click the dropdown arrow. 3. Select Rename. 4. Enter the new directory name. 5. Click OK. Important notes - File extensions matter. If you rename style.css to style.txt, the file will no longer function as a CSS stylesheet. Always keep the correct extension. - Renaming httpdocs or system directories will break your website. Only rename files and folders that you created or manage yourself. - Avoid spaces and special characters in file names. Use hyphens (-) or underscores (_) instead. Spaces in file names can cause issues with URLs and scripts. - Case sensitivity: Linux servers treat File.html and file.html as different files. Be consistent with your naming conventions. - Hidden files (starting with a dot, like .htaccess) are shown in File Manager by default. Be careful not to accidentally rename these — they control important server behaviour. Troubleshooting - Rename option not appearing: Make sure you’re hovering over the file/folder name, not clicking the checkbox. The dropdown icon appears on hover. - “Permission denied” error: The file may be owned by a different system user or have restrictive permissions. Contact your hosting provider for assistance. - Website broken after renaming: If you renamed a file that your website references (like a config file, image, or script), update the references in your code to match the new file name. Or rename it back to the original. - Links stopped working: Renaming a directory changes its URL. If you had yourdomain.com/old-folder/ and renamed it to new-folder, update any links pointing to the old URL.

How to Upload Files Using the Plesk File Manager

The Plesk File Manager lets you upload website files directly from your browser without needing FTP software. This is useful for uploading a few files quickly, or for uploading a compressed archive to extract on the server. Uploading a Single File 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Go to Websites & Domains. 3. Click the domain name. 4. Click Files. 5. Navigate to the directory where you want to upload (usually httpdocs for the main website). 6. Click Upload. 7. Click Upload File and select the file from your computer. 8. The file will be uploaded to the current directory. Uploading Multiple Files or a Directory 1. Click Upload. 2. Click Upload Directory or drag and drop files into the dashed-line box. 3. Wait for the upload to complete. Importing a File from a URL 1. Click Upload → Import file via URL. 2. Enter the URL of the file (e.g., https://example.com/file.zip). 3. Click Import. 4. Plesk will download the file directly to the server. Extracting an Uploaded Archive 1. Select the uploaded archive file (ZIP, RAR, TAR, TGZ, or TAR.GZ) by clicking its checkbox. 2. Click Extract Files. 3. If files with the same names already exist, check Replace existing files to overwrite them. 4. Click OK. Important Notes - The upload limit depends on your hosting plan and server configuration. If you get an upload error for large files, try using FTP instead. - Website files should be placed in the httpdocs directory to be web-accessible. - The httpdocs folder is the equivalent of public_html in cPanel. Troubleshooting Upload fails: - Check your available disk space in Statistics. - Ensure the file size does not exceed the upload limit. - Try a different browser or clear your browser cache. Extracted files are not visible: - Refresh the File Manager page. - Check that the archive contained files at the root level (not nested in a subdirectory).