Uploading your site with File Manager
Get your HTML, CSS, JavaScript and images onto the server without any extra software. The cPanel File Manager lets you upload files or a whole zip straight into public_html and go live in minutes.
If you've built a static website — or exported one from a builder — you just need to place its files in the right folder on your hosting account. The cPanel File Manager is a built-in file browser that handles this from any web browser, no FTP program required. This guide covers uploading files, extracting a zip and confirming your site is live.
Step 1 — Open File Manager
Log in to cPanel (see how to log in to cPanel), then scroll to the Files section and click File Manager. This opens a file browser showing all the folders in your hosting account.
Step 2 — Go to public_html
In the left-hand tree, open the public_html folder. This is your web root — anything placed here is served on your main domain. A file at public_html/index.html loads when a visitor opens yourdomain.com.
public_html are public. Folders outside it (like your home directory) are not served to visitors, so always upload your site into public_html.Step 3 — Upload your files
- Click the Upload button in the File Manager toolbar.
- Drag your files in, or click Select File to choose your HTML, CSS, JS and image files.
- For a full site, upload a single .zip instead of many small files — it's far faster.
- When the progress bars finish, click Go Back to return to
public_html.
Step 4 — Extract the zip
If you uploaded a zip, right-click it in File Manager and choose Extract. Confirm the destination is public_html, then delete the zip once the files are unpacked so only your site remains. Make sure the files sit directly in public_html and not inside an extra sub-folder.
Step 5 — Set index.html and check the site
Your homepage file must be named index.html (or index.php) and sit directly in public_html. This is the default document the server loads for your domain. Open yourdomain.com in a browser to confirm the site is live and all images and styles load correctly.
Frequently asked
My site shows a directory listing instead of my page
That means the server can't find an index.html in public_html. Check the homepage file is named exactly index.html (all lowercase) and isn't buried inside an extra folder.
Images or CSS aren't loading
File paths are case-sensitive on the server. Make sure the folder and file names in your HTML match the uploaded files exactly, including capital letters.
Related guides
Need help getting your site live?
Our Dubai-based team can upload your files, point your domain and switch on SSL for you. Send us your site and we'll handle it.