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How to upload a website in cPanel

Put your website’s files in the domain’s document root: public_html for the main domain. Upload them as a .zip with cPanel’s File Manager and extract it, or use an FTP client. If the site uses a database, create one in cPanel, then import your .sql file with phpMyAdmin.

Updated · HostUpIndia team

Where to upload your files

Each domain loads its files from one folder, its document root. Your homepage must sit at the top of that folder, as index.html or index.php, not inside a subfolder.

  • Main domain: public_html.
  • Addon domain or subdomain: the folder set as its document root. cPanel shows it under Domains. See how to create a subdomain.

How to upload a website with File Manager

The quickest way for most sites. Upload one .zip file rather than many single files. New to it? How to use cPanel File Manager.

  • On your computer, compress your site’s files into one .zip file.
  • Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.
  • Open public_html, or the domain’s document root.
  • If the folder already holds a site, back it up first, with Compress in File Manager or cPanel’s Backup tool. Extracting can overwrite files with the same names.
  • Click Upload, choose the .zip file and wait for 100%.
  • Go back to the folder, right-click the .zip file and choose Extract.
  • If the files landed in a subfolder, select them all and move them up one level.
  • Delete the .zip file.
  • If your homepage is index.php, rename any old index.html, for example to index-old.html. Otherwise it can load first.

How to upload with FTP or SFTP

Better for large sites and for updating a few files at a time. Which to pick: SFTP vs FTP.

  • In cPanel, open FTP Accounts and create an account.
  • Set its Directory to public_html, or the domain’s document root.
  • Open an FTP client such as FileZilla.
  • Choose FTP over TLS if your client offers it, so your password is not sent in plain text.
  • Connect with the server name from your welcome email or client area, the full username (name@yourdomain.com), the password and port 21.
  • Drag your site’s files into the folder, keeping the folder structure.
  • Or use SFTP: connect with your cPanel username and password, or an SSH key, on the SSH port given in your welcome email or client area, then open public_html.

How to create a database in cPanel

WordPress and most PHP apps keep their content in a MySQL database. Skip this for a plain HTML site.

  • Open Manage My Databases, called MySQL Databases in older cPanel. The database wizard next to it does the same steps in order.
  • Under Create New Database, enter a name and click Create Database. cPanel adds your account name as a prefix, as in user_site.
  • Under MySQL Users, add a user with a strong password. Note the full username and the password.
  • Under Add User To Database, choose the user and the database, then click Add.
  • Tick All Privileges and click Make Changes.

Import the database and update your config

Bring in your data with phpMyAdmin, then point your site at the new database.

  • Export the database from your old host as a .sql file.
  • In cPanel, open phpMyAdmin and click your new database in the left column.
  • Open the Import tab, choose the .sql file and click Import.
  • If the import stops on a CREATE DATABASE line, remove that line and any USE line from the file, then import again.
  • For a large file, compress it as .sql.gz first, or import it over SSH: mysql -u user_dbuser -p user_site < backup.sql.
  • WordPress: in wp-config.php, set DB_NAME, DB_USER and DB_PASSWORD to the new values. Set DB_HOST to localhost unless your host gives another value.
  • Other apps: change the same values in their config file, such as .env or config.php.

Check your site and file permissions

Open your domain in a browser. If it still shows another site or an error page, the domain may not point to your hosting yet: connect your domain to your hosting. What 755 and 644 mean: file permissions explained.

  • Set folders to 755 and files to 644: in File Manager, select an item and click Permissions.
  • Over SSH, set them all at once from your home folder: find public_html -mindepth 1 -type d -exec chmod 755 {} + and find public_html -type f -exec chmod 644 {} +.
  • Never use 777.
  • A file list or 403 Forbidden error usually means there is no index file at the top of the folder, or the permissions are wrong.
  • A database error means the name, user or password in the config file does not match cPanel.

Upload it to HostUpIndia

HostUpIndia Web & cPanel Hosting gives you cPanel to upload files and create databases, and terminal (SSH) access for SFTP and large imports. Every plan includes LiteSpeed, NVMe storage, free SSL and daily backups kept 30 days.

From ₹49 a month on 3-year billing. Prices exclude 18% GST.

Moving from another host? The in-house team moves your site for you: free website migration.

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