DirectAdmin includes a browser-based terminal that lets you run shell commands directly on your hosting account, without installing a separate SSH client like PuTTY. It's useful for quick tasks such as checking file permissions, running WP-CLI commands, or unzipping a large file without downloading and re-uploading it.
Before You Start
The terminal only works if SSH access is enabled on your hosting account. Most ZIPROF hosting plans have this available, but if the terminal option doesn't appear in your account, contact ZIPROF support to confirm it's enabled.
The browser terminal runs commands with the same permissions as your hosting account. A mistyped command (for example, an unintended rm command) can delete files permanently. Only run commands you understand, and always keep a recent backup before making bulk changes.
Opening the Terminal
- Log in to your DirectAdmin account.
- In the left-hand menu, look for Advanced Features (or a similar section, depending on your skin) and click Terminal.
- A terminal window opens directly in your browser, already logged in to your hosting account's shell.
If you don't see a Terminal option, your account may not have SSH access enabled, or your DirectAdmin skin may list it under a different menu group. Use the search box at the top of the DirectAdmin panel, if available, and type "terminal" to locate it quickly.
Using the Terminal
Once open, you can type commands the same way you would in any SSH session. Some common examples:
- ls -la - lists all files and folders in the current directory, including hidden ones.
- cd domains/yourdomain.com/public_html - moves into your website's main folder.
- unzip filename.zip - extracts a zip file without needing File Manager.
- du -sh * - shows how much disk space each file or folder is using.
Press Enter after each command to run it. The terminal session stays open in that browser tab until you close it or log out of DirectAdmin.
When to Use the Terminal vs File Manager
For everyday tasks like uploading, editing, or renaming a handful of files, the File Manager is usually faster and safer. Reach for the terminal when you need to run a specific command-line tool, like WP-CLI or Composer, extract a very large archive, or search through many files at once.
If you're more comfortable with cPanel, see how to use cPanel's built-in terminal instead.