Web Disk is a feature built into cPanel that lets you access your hosting account's files directly from your computer's file browser, the same way you'd open a regular folder, without installing a separate FTP program. It uses the WebDAV protocol, so once it's set up you can drag and drop files between your computer and your hosting account just like local files.
What Web Disk Is Useful For
Web Disk is a good option when you want quick access to your hosting files without setting up an FTP client, or when you want to give someone limited access to only one folder (rather than your whole account) using a separate Web Disk login.
How to Create a Web Disk Account in cPanel
- Log in to cPanel and find the Web Disk icon in the Files section.
- Under Create a Web Disk Account, enter a username and a strong password.
- In the Directory field, set which folder this Web Disk account can access. Leave it as the home directory for full access, or enter a specific folder (for example public_html/clients) to limit access to just that folder.
- Click Create.
If you only need to share one folder with someone, for example a client who needs to drop off files, create a separate Web Disk account scoped to that folder instead of handing out your main cPanel login.
How to Connect to Web Disk
After creating the account, cPanel lists it under Web Disk Accounts with a Configure Client Automatically link for Windows, macOS, and other systems, which downloads a ready-made connection file. If you'd rather connect manually, use the steps below.
Connecting on Windows
- Open File Explorer, right-click This PC, and choose Map network drive.
- Pick any available drive letter, then in the Folder field enter your Web Disk address, usually in the form https://yourdomain.com:2078 (replace with your actual domain).
- When prompted, enter the Web Disk username and password you created.
Some versions of Windows block non-SSL WebDAV connections by default. Always use the secure address on port 2078 rather than the non-SSL port 2077 to avoid this.
Connecting on Mac
- Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, then Connect to Server.
- Enter your Web Disk address, for example https://yourdomain.com:2078, and click Connect.
- Enter the Web Disk username and password when prompted. Your hosting folder will then appear as a mounted drive on your desktop.
Once connected, you can open, edit, upload, and delete files the same way you would in any folder on your computer. If you need to move large numbers of files or prefer a dedicated file-transfer tool instead, see FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use to Transfer Files to Your Website?.