How to change file and folder permissions in Plesk

What are permissions?

Every file and folder on your hosting has rules. The rules say who can do what. There are three actions:

• Read: look at the file.
• Write: change or delete the file.
• Execute: run the file as a program. For folders, it means going inside.

The rules apply to three groups: the owner, the group, and everyone else. Permissions are often shown as a number like 644 or 755. Each digit is one group. A bigger number gives more rights.

Warning: wrong permissions can break your site. Never use 777, because it lets anyone change the file. Take a backup before you change many files.

Steps

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Click Websites & Domains, then your domain.
3. Click File Manager.
4. Open the folder that holds your file.
5. Find the file or folder. The list may have a Permissions column. Click the permission text in that row.
6. If you do not see it, click the small menu next to the file name and choose Change Permissions.

   

7. Tick the boxes you need for Read, Write and Execute. Do this for each group.
8. To apply the change to everything inside a folder, tick Apply to subdirectories and files if you see it.
9. Click OK.

Check the result

Look at the Permissions column again. It should show the new setting. Then open your website and test it.

Not sure what to pick? Open a support ticket and ask.

Quick recap

• Permissions control who can read, write or run a file.
• Open File Manager and change them on the file's row.
• Use 644 for files and 755 for folders in most cases.
• Avoid 777, and back up first.