To upload your website files, manage backups, or work with databases, you will use cPanel’s File Manager, FTP, or phpMyAdmin. This article covers the basics.
Uploading Files via File Manager
- Log in to cPanel.
- In the Files section, click File Manager.
- Navigate to public_html – this is the main folder for your website.
- To upload files:
- Click Upload at the top.
- Drag and drop files or click Select File to choose from your computer.
- After upload, you can move, rename, or edit files.
Make sure your homepage is named index.php or index.html.
Creating and Using FTP Accounts
FTP allows you to upload many files at once using software like FileZilla.
To create an FTP account in cPanel:
- Go to Files → FTP Accounts.
- Click Create FTP Account.
- Choose a username (e.g.,
myftp). - Set a password.
- Choose the directory (leave empty for full access to
public_html). - Click Create FTP Account.
Setting up FileZilla (free FTP client):
- Download and install FileZilla from their official website.
- Open FileZilla, go to File → Site Manager.
- Click New Site, give it a name.
- Host:
yourdomain.com(or your server IP). - Protocol: FTP – File Transfer Protocol.
- Encryption: Use explicit FTP over TLS (if available).
- Logon Type: Normal.
- User: Your FTP username (e.g.,
myftp@yourdomain.com). - Password: Your FTP password.
- Click Connect. You will see your local files (left) and server files (right). Drag and drop to upload.
Common FTP errors and solutions:
- 530 Login authentication failed: Wrong username or password. Double‑check and try again.
- 425 Can’t open data connection: Firewall or network issue. Try active mode or contact support.
- 550 Permission denied: You are trying to write to a folder you don’t own. Check permissions.
- 553 Could not create file: Disk quota full or folder permissions wrong.
Creating a MySQL Database
If your website uses a database (like WordPress, Joomla, or a custom app), you need to create one:
- In cPanel, go to Databases → MySQL Databases.
- Under Create a New Database, enter a name and click Create Database.
- Under Add a New User, create a username and password.
- Under Add User to Database, select the user and database, then click Add.
- Grant all privileges (check all boxes) and click Make Changes.
You can then use phpMyAdmin to manage your database tables and data.
Accessing phpMyAdmin and Importing/Exporting Databases
- In cPanel, go to Databases → phpMyAdmin.
- You will be logged in automatically.
- On the left, select the database you want to manage.
- To import a database (e.g., from a backup): click the Import tab, choose your SQL file, and click Go.
- To export a database: click the Export tab, choose method (Quick or Custom), and click Go to download.
Optimizing and repairing databases: If your site becomes slow or you get database errors, you can optimize or repair tables.
- In phpMyAdmin, select your database.
- Scroll to the bottom of the table list and click Check All.
- From the dropdown, choose Optimize table or Repair table.
Fixing “Establishing a Database Connection” Error in WordPress
This error usually means your wp-config.php file has incorrect database credentials. To fix:
- In cPanel File Manager, go to
public_html. - Open
wp-config.phpfor editing. - Check the database name, username, password, and host (usually
localhost). - If you are unsure of the correct details, go to MySQL Databases in cPanel to find the database and user.
- You can also reset the database user password from there.
- Save the file and reload your website.
If you cannot fix it, contact our support.
