Complete guide to shifting your site from subfolder to root domain in cPanel

Encountering the “Index Of” error after uploading your website indicates incorrect file placement. This error displays a directory listing instead of your intended website content. This article will guide you the process to move your website from a subfolder to the base domain within your cPanel account.

Steps to Move a Website from Subfolder to Base Domain

1. Begin by logging in to your cPanel account and locating the “File Manager” section.

2. Within the File Manager, locate and open the directory labeled “public_html” (also known as the document root). This is the primary directory where your website’s files should reside.

3. If you uploaded your website files to a subfolder within “public_html” (e.g., “wordpress“), open that subfolder.

4. You should indeed see all your website’s essential files within this directory. Look for a file named “index.php” or “index.html” as an indicator of the correct location.

5. Utilize the “Select All” function to select all files and folders within the identified directory. Right-click on any selected item and choose “Move.”

6. In the “Move” dialog box, ensure the destination path is set to “/public_html” (the document root). This guarantees your website files reside in the correct location for proper display. Confirm the move by clicking “Move Files.”

7. After the successful move, revisit the “/public_html” directory and remove any leftover files or folders from the previous incorrect location (e.g., the original subfolder and its contents if you uploaded everything within a subfolder).

8. Clear your browser’s cache and revisit your website in a web browser. This ensures you’re viewing the most recent website files. Verify that your website content displays correctly, resolving the “Index Of” error.

By following these steps, you can effectively correct the file placement issue and ensure your website functions as intended within your cPanel hosting environment.