Learn how to show hidden files in cPanel.
cPanel is a widely used control panel forweb hosting. Its graphical interface provides tools for managing a hosting account. File Manager lets you browse, upload, download and edit website files in one place.
Understanding hidden files
What is a hidden file in cPanel?
Some files may not appear in the default File Manager listing. These are commonly dotfiles, whose names begin with a period, such as .htaccess. They often store configuration information and are hidden to keep routine file listings uncluttered. You may need to show them when changing configuration.
A hidden file is not necessarily secret or malicious. Hiding a file from File Manager is a display preference, not an access-control measure. You can enable its display when needed.
Steps to show hidden files
Follow these steps to display hidden files in cPanel File Manager.
How to show hidden files in cPanel
On the homepage, open Files, then File Manager. It may open in a new tab.
Choose the directory whose files you want to inspect. For a website, start with its actual document root, which is often public_html.
Find Settings, usually in the upper-right corner, and click it.
Enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles), then click Save. These files commonly have names beginning with a period.
After saving, File Manager refreshes and displays hidden files in the selected directory.
Browse hidden files
You can now access hidden files like other files. This is useful when reviewing or editing configuration such as .htaccess. Make a backup before changing configuration. You may disable Show Hidden Files afterward to simplify the listing, but doing so does not secure the files.
You can now display hidden files in cPanel.
Reference documentation:
Sources accessed on October 11, 2026. Available features depend on your hosting version and options.
