How to upload a website to Hostinger, cPanel or any host
Uploading a website means copying its files into one folder on your web host, almost always called public_html. Put index.html directly in that folder, keep the css, js and images folders beside it, and your site is live as soon as the upload finishes.
Below are the four easy ways to do it, the exact clicks for Hostinger and cPanel, and what to check when the page still doesn’t show up. No coding needed.
Before you upload: a two-minute check
Most upload problems start on your computer, not on the server. Fix these first and the rest goes smoothly.
Open it on your computer first
Double-click index.html. If photos, colors and links work there, they will work online. Fixing a problem now is quicker than fixing it on the server.
Find the folder with index.html in it
That folder’s contents are what you upload, not the folder above it. If index.html ends up one folder too deep, visitors see an error or a list of files.
Keep names in lowercase
Web servers treat Photo.JPG and photo.jpg as two different files. A name that works on Windows can break online if the capitals don’t match.
Put in your web address
Templates often have a placeholder address in the page settings, sitemap.xml and robots.txt. Swap in your own before you upload so Google gets the right one.
Make a zip of the contents
Select everything inside the folder, not the folder itself, and compress it. Then index.html sits at the top of the zip and lands in the right place when you extract it.
Four ways to upload, and which to pick
They all put the same files in the same folder. Pick the one that fits how often you’ll update the site.
| Method | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger File Manager | Hostinger customers who want the quickest first upload. | Your browser |
| cPanel File Manager | Bluehost, Namecheap, InMotion and other cPanel hosts. | Your browser |
| FileZilla (FTP or SFTP) | Frequent updates and sites with many files. | Free program for Windows, Mac and Linux |
| Dreamweaver | Editing and uploading from the same program. | Adobe Dreamweaver |
Upload to Hostinger with File Manager
For HTML and PHP websites on Hostinger web or cloud hosting. Sites made with Hostinger Website Builder or Horizons don’t use files, so they have no File Manager or FTP.
1. Open File Manager
Log in to hPanel, go to Websites and click Dashboard next to your site. In the left menu, choose Files, then File Manager. It opens in your site’s public_html folder.
2. Remove the placeholder page
A new Hostinger site shows a “You Are All Set to Go!” page. That page is a file called default.php in public_html. Right-click it and choose Delete.
3. Upload your zip
Click Upload at the top right and choose the zip you made. Hostinger accepts zip, tar and tar.gz archives.
4. Extract it
Right-click the uploaded zip and choose Extract. Hostinger asks for a folder name. If your files land in a new subfolder, open it, select everything and move it up into public_html.
5. Delete the zip and check your site
Delete the zip so it isn’t left on your server, then visit your domain. If you see an older version, open Performance › CDN in hPanel and click Flush cache.
Upload with cPanel File Manager
cPanel is used by many hosts, including Bluehost, Namecheap and InMotion. The steps are the same wherever you see the cPanel dashboard.
1. Open File Manager
Log in to cPanel. In the Files section, click File Manager, then double-click public_html in the folder list.
2. Clear out any holding page
If the folder has a host’s “coming soon” page, usually named index.html, default.html or index.php, delete it so it doesn’t compete with your home page.
3. Upload the zip
Click Upload in the toolbar, then Select File and choose your zip. cPanel uploads files, not folders, which is why the zip matters here. When the bar reaches 100%, click the Go Back link.
4. Extract into public_html
Select the zip, click Extract in the toolbar and make sure the path says /public_html. Click Extract Files, then Close.
5. Tidy up and test
Delete the zip and open your domain in a private browser window so you see the live version, not a saved copy.
Upload with FileZilla (FTP or SFTP)
FileZilla is a free program that shows your computer on the left and your server on the right. You drag files across. Choose SFTP when your plan offers it, because it encrypts your login.
| Setting | Hostinger | cPanel hosts |
|---|---|---|
| Where to find the details | hPanel: your website’s Dashboard, then Files › FTP Accounts. SFTP details are under Advanced › SSH Access. | cPanel: Files › FTP Accounts, or your hosting welcome email. |
| Host | The FTP IP address shown in hPanel. | Your domain, ftp.yourdomain.com or the server address your host gives you. |
| Username and password | Your FTP username. Your SFTP username is shown under SSH Access. | An FTP account you create, or your cPanel login for SFTP. |
| Port | 21 for FTP. For SFTP, use the port hPanel shows; Hostinger’s help articles list 65002, not the usual 22. | 21 for FTP, usually 22 for SFTP. |
| Folder to open | public_html | public_html |
In FileZilla, open File › Site Manager, click New site and enter those details. Pick SFTP as the protocol if you’re using it, then click Connect. The first time, FileZilla asks whether to trust the server’s key. Check that the address is right and say yes.
On the right, open public_html. If you land one level above it, in your home folder, double-click into public_html first; files dropped in the home folder won’t show on your site. On the left, open the folder that holds index.html. Select everything in it and drag it into public_html. The bottom panel shows each file as it transfers.
Upload from Dreamweaver
If you edit your site in Dreamweaver, connect it to your host once and you can send changes with one click.
1. Add your server
Choose Site › Manage Sites, select your site and click the edit icon. Open Servers and click the plus button.
2. Enter your details
Give the server any name. Set Connect using to SFTP if your host supports it, otherwise FTP. Enter the same host, port, username and password you would use in FileZilla.
3. Set the root directory
Enter the folder that holds index.html on the server, usually public_html. If your FTP account already opens inside public_html, leave it blank. Add your web address as the Web URL.
4. Test and save
Click Test. When Dreamweaver connects, click Save.
5. Put your files
In the Files panel, select the files you changed and click Put (the up arrow). Put sends only what you select, so it won’t touch other files on the server.
Keep private folders off the server
Folders such as backups or notes don’t belong online. In Site Setup, under Advanced Settings › Cloaking, you can cloak them so Dreamweaver never uploads them.
Uploaded, but the site won’t show? Check these
Almost every “my website isn’t working” after an upload comes down to one of these six things.
You see a list of files, or a 403 error
index.html is one folder too deep, or it’s named Index.html or home.html. Move the files up into public_html and make sure the name is index.html in lowercase.
You still see the host’s welcome page
The placeholder file is still there. Delete default.php on Hostinger, or the host’s holding page on other hosts.
The page shows but looks broken
The css or images folder didn’t upload, landed in the wrong place, or a file name’s capitals don’t match. Compare the server’s folders with the ones on your computer.
Your changes don’t appear
You’re seeing a saved copy. Flush your host’s cache or CDN, then reload in a private window.
The domain doesn’t open at all
A domain that was just connected can take a few hours to reach everyone. Check that it points to your host’s nameservers.
The browser says “Not secure”
Turn on the free SSL certificate in your hosting panel. Most hosts include one with the plan.
Once it’s live, run your site through our free website speed test and AI-ready check to make sure it’s fast and easy for Google and AI assistants to read.
Website upload questions
Where do I upload my website files?
Into the folder your host uses as the web root. On Hostinger and cPanel hosts that folder is public_html. Your home page file, index.html, must sit directly inside it, with the css, js and images folders next to it.
Can I upload a whole folder in File Manager?
Hostinger’s newer File Manager can upload a folder. cPanel’s File Manager uploads files, not folders, so zip your site first, upload the zip and extract it on the server. Zipping is faster on any host.
Do I need FTP to upload a website?
No. A browser File Manager is enough for most small sites. FTP or SFTP with a program like FileZilla is handy when you update often or have a lot of files, and Dreamweaver can upload for you once it is connected.
Should I use FTP or SFTP?
Use SFTP when your host offers it. It encrypts your password and your files on the way to the server. Plain FTP sends them unprotected, so use it only if SFTP isn’t available on your plan.
How long does it take for my website to show up?
Uploaded files are live within seconds. If you just pointed a new domain at your host, that can take a few hours to reach everyone. If you see an old version, clear your host’s cache or CDN and refresh.
Can I upload a Wix or Squarespace site to Hostinger?
No. Sites built on hosted builders can’t be downloaded as files, so there is nothing to upload. You would rebuild the site, for example from a template, and then upload that.
Do I upload every file that comes with my template?
Upload index.html and the folders next to it, plus robots.txt, sitemap.xml and llms.txt once your web address is in them. Our START-HERE.html setup guide can stay on your computer.
Sources, checked November 2026: Hostinger: File Manager · Hostinger: the default page · Hostinger: FTP details · Hostinger: connecting with SFTP · Hostinger: clearing the CDN cache · Using cPanel File Manager · Adobe: connect Dreamweaver to a server. Hosting panels change, so we recheck these regularly.
Related guides: A website with no monthly platform fees · How much does a website cost? · What pages does a small business website need? · All guides
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