This interface allows you to protect specific directories in your cPanel account’s files. After you enable this feature for a directory, when users attempt to view that directory via a website, the system prompts them to log in.
Note
This feature modifies htaccess and htpasswd configurations in order to restrict access to files on your websites.
This feature does not protect directories that users access via FTP, SFTP, Web Disk, or other services, or when they access files locally.
Select a directory
To use this interface, select a directory to manage.
To select a directory, click the desired directory’s name.
To view and select subdirectories, click the parent directory’s name. Then, click the desired subdirectory name.
To configure the security settings for a directory or subdirectory, click Edit under the Actions column.
Note
A protected directory’s subdirectories inherit their parent directory’s password protection.
The lock icon () indicates that Directory Privacy configurations already exist for that directory.
Security Settings
Important:
You must perform these steps and click Save in order to enable this feature.
To password-protect the selected directory, perform the following steps:
.1Select the Password to protect this directory checkbox.
NoteTo remove password protection from a directory, deselect the Password protect this directory checkbox. Then, click Save.
.2Enter a label for the directory in the Enter a name for the protected directory text box.
NoteThis name only functions as a label for the directory in its .htaccess file. Do not confuse it with the directory’s actual name.
.3Click Save. A confirmation message will appear. Click Go Back to return to the directory’s configuration.
Important
After you complete this process, you must create a user that can access this directory.
Create User
Warning
To create a user for a directory, the directory must have correct directory permissions. If you cannot create a user, change the directory’s permissions to 0700 in cPanel’s File Manager interface (cPanel » Home » Files » File Manager).
To create an authorized user for the selected directory, perform the following steps:
.1Enter the desired username in the Username text box.
.2Enter and confirm the new password in the appropriate text boxes.
Note
The system evaluates the password that you enter on a scale of 100 points. 0 indicates a weak password, while 100 indicates a very secure password.
Some web hosts require a minimum password strength. A green password Strength meter indicates that the password is equal to or greater than the required password strength.
Click Password Generator to generate a strong password. For more information, read our Password & Security documentation.
.3Click Save. A confirmation message will appear. Click Go Back to return to the directory’s configuration.
Note
To change an existing user’s password, enter the user’s information and the new desired password. Then, click Save.
Authorized Users
The Authorized Users menu lists the directory’s existing authorized users. To delete a user, select that user and click Delete User. A confirmation message will appear. Click Go Back to return to the directory’s configuration.