Upload, download & manage files in Cyberduck

Once you’re connected with Cyberduck, the everyday jobs are quick: uploading and downloading files, changing permissions, and showing hidden files. This guide covers all four so you can manage the files on your web hosting account with confidence.

Upload files

First open the folder you want to upload into. For your website’s main domain that’s public_html. Then either drag files from your computer into the Cyberduck window, or go to File → Upload (or right-click → Upload) and pick them. If you see a warning that the connection isn’t secure, you can click Continue – or switch to SFTP to avoid it. A progress panel confirms when the upload finishes.

Download files

Navigate to the folder containing the file, right-click it, and choose Download (or Download As to pick where it’s saved). This is handy for grabbing a backup of a single file before you edit it, or pulling your whole site down to your computer.

Change file permissions

Permissions control who can read, write, or run a file. Right-click the file, choose Info, and open the Permissions tab to adjust them. As a rule of thumb, files should be 644 and folders 755. Only change permissions when a guide or your application specifically asks – the wrong values can break a site or open a security hole.

Show hidden files

Files that start with a dot, like .htaccess, are hidden by default. To work with them, go to the View menu and click Show Hidden Files. Turn it back off afterwards to keep the file list tidy. This is the setting you need whenever you have to edit or download a configuration file that seems to be “missing”.

Need more help?

Transfers failing or files not showing up? Open a ticket through Client Area → Support and our team will help.