How to Disable Directory Listing in cPanel

cPanel is a popular control panel used by many web hosting providers to manage websites and servers. One important aspect of website security is to disable directory listing, which prevents visitors from seeing the contents of directories on your server. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to disable directory listing in cPanel.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

First, log in to your cPanel account using your username and password.

Step 2: Access the File Manager

Once you are logged in, navigate to the "File Manager" icon in the cPanel dashboard. Click on it to open the file manager.

Step 3: Locate the .htaccess File

In the file manager, navigate to the public_html directory, which is the root directory of your website. Look for the .htaccess file. If you cannot find it, you may need to enable the option to show hidden files in the file manager settings.

Step 4: Edit the .htaccess File

Right-click on the .htaccess file and select "Edit" from the menu. If the file does not exist, you can create a new one by clicking on the "+" icon in the file manager and naming it .htaccess.

Step 5: Add Code to Disable Directory Listing

Once you have the .htaccess file open for editing, add the following code to disable directory listing:

Options -Indexes

Save the changes to the .htaccess file.

Step 6: Test the Changes

After saving the changes, you can test if directory listing has been disabled by trying to access a directory on your website that does not have an index file (e.g., index.html). You should see a message indicating that directory listing is disabled.

Conclusion

Disabling directory listing in cPanel is a simple but effective way to enhance the security of your website. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can prevent visitors from accessing the contents of directories on your server. Remember to regularly review and update your website security measures to protect your website from potential threats.