Uploading website files is one of the first steps users need to take to publish their creation on the Internet. This tutorial will provide a generalized example of how to upload your website to the internet using the most common tools.
Before starting this guide you will need the following:
- Access to control Panel of your hosting account.
- The your website files (preferably in a .zip or .tar.gz file) and the database (if used).
- An FTP client such as FileZilla and the FTP login details (optional).
Step 1: Choose a reliable web hosting service
First of all, you will have to find the right one. Choose a top-tier hosting provider that integrates all the key features to propel your web project to the top. With , you will have several options to choose from, from one to a dedicated server hosting to create your website. In addition to hosting, you can also .
Here are some important things to look for in a web hosting provider:
- Live support. There is no worse feeling than finding an obstacle and discovering that there is no one to help you. If a web host doesn’t offer live chat or a direct phone line, you may run into difficulties from time to time.
- Control over your web hosting space. The less control you have over your account, the more likely you are to run into problems when your site starts to grow. A good example would be compare (the self-hosted version).
- Room for growth. The most successful websites bet on the long term. Before you commit to a provider, make sure they have scalable solutions in case your website starts to need more power (like or ).
- Money back guarantee. Nobody likes a bad investment, so be sure to check out the refund policy. This will give you a period of time to test everything before you fully commit to using the service.
- Additional benefits. Who doesn’t like a good deal? For example, we include a register of with all annual web hosting plans (and the Business plan also includes a Certificate Free Lifetime SSL!). In short, he tries to hit as many birds as possible with one stone.
Step 2: Choose the method to upload your website
The next important aspect is choosing the right tool to do the job. Here are four of the most used tools for uploading a website:
file managers
A web browser based tool with all the key features to take care of your files and directories. You’ll also get one of these at !
However, one drawback you may encounter is the upload limit. If the backup of your website is larger than 256MByou must use FTP.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Since all hosting providers include FTP by default, you can use it for . All connection requirements are in FTP accounts in the section Records.
If you decide to upload your web page via FTP, there will be no size limits. This means that you will be able to import your backup file regardless of how large it is.
Automatic website importer
On , you can also find a feature called import website. You can use it to extract a web archive from up to 256MB directly to the directory public_html.
WordPress migration plugins
If you are using WordPress, there are several ways to move your website. One of the easiest methods is to use a plugin (like ), which does the heavy lifting for you.
However, it is also limited to 256MBalthough it can be overcome by purchasing the premium version of the plugin.
If a website is larger than that it is best to use FTP. For detailed instructions, check out our .
Step 3: Upload the site file and extract it
Now that you know the best tools to upload a website, it’s time to do the dirty work.
Let’s start with the File Manager, our custom tool is designed to ease every webmaster’s workflow. When you open it, select the icon Upload files in the top right menu.
Next, you will need to select the website file on your computer and import it to our server.
Then use the function Extract from the top menu to unzip your file.
And that’s it for this step. In the next one we will make sure that all the files are in the correct folder.
If you decide to use to upload your site, we recommend extracting the file beforehand on your local machine (since the FTP client does not have an extraction function).
By doing that, you will be able to transfer all the files directly to public_html without doing any additional work. Otherwise, you’ll have to later and .
Step 4: Make sure all files are in public_html
At this point, you need to make sure that all the files are located in the root directory of your domain, which is public_html.
In some cases, when you extract a backup copy of the website, an additional directory will be created. This can cause your website files to open through example.com/something-else instead of example.com
The “Index of /” message means that your files are not located in the correct directory.
To move your website from a subfolder to the base domain, you can use a File Manager or FTP. The steps are:
- Access the directory where your files are located.
- Select them all, right-click and select the button Move.
- Establishes public_html like destiny and continues.
Step 5: Import the MySQL database
If your website uses a database, you will also need to upload it. use one for example.
However, if your website does not use a MySQL database, you can simply skip this part.
The steps to import your database are:
- Create a new MySQL database and user.
- Access your newly created database via phpMyAdmin.
- use the section Import to upload the backup file.
- Update the MySQL database connection details (database name, host, user, password) in your configuration files.
For a more detailed explanation, see our guide on .
Step 6: Check that the website works
After uploading the website files, all you have to do is check if it works. If you already , you will only have to open your domain through a web browser.
Please note that if your domain was recently pointed to our servers, you may need to wait up to 24 hours for the DNS to fully propagate worldwide.
In case the domain points to another server, there are more ways to test if everything will work:
- Use the hosts file. There is a special file on your computer that you can modify to emulate DNS changes (if you’re using MacOS, see this guide).
- Check availability through online tools. There are many that you can use! Also, they are extremely easy to use. Just paste your domain name and the tool will do the rest.
- Use a browser plugin. If you configure an extension like , you can use it to test DNS changes. All you need is the domain name and IP address of your account (A record).
If you followed all the instructions correctly, your website content should appear. But in case you have any problems, we are ready to help you 24/7!
conclusion
Congratulations, you just learned how to upload a web page to the internet. As you can see, you can upload many files at once using an FTP client. However, the files will be uploaded one by one and it may take a while.
On the other hand, the File Manager tool is extremely useful for quickly importing a file or two, making code adjustments, or uploading a website that does not exceed 256 MB in size.
In case you are anxious to open one, now you know all the necessary steps to upload your creation to the web!
Gustavo is passionate about creating websites. He focuses on the application of SEO strategies at for Spain and Latin America, as well as the creation of high-level content. When he is not applying new WordPress tricks you can find him playing the guitar, traveling or taking an online course.
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