How to download a copy of your cPanel website folder Print

Downloading the public_html folder (or any other folder) from your cPanel account involves a few straightforward steps. The public_html directory is the root folder for your primary domain; thus, it's crucial when backing up your website. Keep in mind that your website may use a database to power the content or functionality of your website.  Please review this article on how to backup your database data ().

Here’s a step-by-step guide to downloading your website files:

Step 1: Log into cPanel

1. Open your web browser.
2. Go to your website’s cPanel by entering http://yourdomain.com/cpanel (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name) or the specific URL provided by your hosting provider for cPanel access.
3. Enter your cPanel username and password to log in.

Step 2: Access the File Manager

1. Once logged into cPanel, look for the Files section.
2. Click on File Manager. This will open the cPanel File Manager, which allows you to manage all files within your hosting account.

Step 3: Locate the public_html Folder

1. In the File Manager, you'll see a list of folders on the left side. Locate and click on the public_html folder to view its contents. This folder contains your website's files and directories.

Step 4: Compress the Folder (Optional)

If your public_html folder is large, it's a good idea to compress it before downloading to save time and reduce the risk of download errors.

1. Select the public_html folder by clicking on it once.
2. Locate the Compress option in the top menu of the File Manager. Click on it.
3. Choose the compression format (ZIP is recommended) and provide a name for the compressed file, then click on Compress File(s).
4. Once the compression is done, you’ll find the ZIP file inside the public_html directory or the location you specified.

Step 5: Download the Folder or Compressed File

1. If you compressed the folder, locate the ZIP file you created. If not, simply select the public_html folder.
2. Click on the Download option in the top menu of the File Manager.
3. Choose the destination on your computer where you want to save the folder or ZIP file, and the download will start immediately.

Step 6: Verify the Download

1. Once the download is complete, locate the file on your computer.
2. If you downloaded a compressed file, extract it using your operating system’s built-in utility or a third-party tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip to verify that all files are intact.

Tips

• Ensure you have a stable internet connection before starting the download, especially if the public_html folder is large, to prevent any corruption or interruption.
• Regularly backing up your public_html folder and databases is good practice to prevent data loss.