The document root is the directory that serves a particular website. Not every domain in an account uses the same directory.

What to do

  1. In cPanel > Domains, find the exact domain and its Document Root.
  2. Open that directory in File Manager. The primary domain commonly uses public_html, while additional domains may have separate roots.
  3. Check the existing index file and create a backup before replacing a live site.
  4. Upload only public build output. Keep credentials, database exports and private archives outside the public document root.

Good to know

Uploading to the wrong root can overwrite another site or expose files publicly.

Related help

Technical reference: Official documentation. Available controls may vary by service and version.

Reviewed October 18, 2026. Need help? Contact JIJ support.

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