How to configure directory privacy in cPanel

This article describes how to use cPanel to protect specific directories with a password. Visitors to password-protected directories must enter a username and password to view the directory’s contents.

Adding password protection to a directory

When you add password protection to a directory, you provide a name for the directory that will appear in users’ web browsers when they are prompted for a username and password. Then you create users and passwords to specify who can access the directory.

To add password protection to a directory, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Open the Directory Privacy tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click Directory Privacy:             
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click Directory Privacy:                                                                                                                                                       
3. Click the name of the directory that you want to protect.
   You can click the folder icon next to a folder name to open the folder.
4. Click Edit.
5. Under Security Settings, select the Password to protect this directory check box.
6. In the Enter a name for the protected directory text box, type a name for the protected directory.
7. Click Save.
8. Under Create User, type a username in the Username text box.
9. In the New Password text box, type the user’s password.
10. In the Confirm Password text box, retype the user’s password.
    You can click Password Generator and cPanel generates a random, strong password for you.
11. Click Save. cPanel adds password protection to the directory.
    You can add multiple users to a password-protected directory.

Removing password protection from a directory

You can remove password protection from a directory when you no longer want to protect it with a password. You do not need to remove the usernames and passwords that you created for the directory. All usernames and passwords are retained when you remove password protection from the directory, but they become inactive. If you subsequently re-enable password protection for the directory, you can use the same usernames and passwords again.

To remove password protection from a directory, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Open the Directory Privacy tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click Directory Privacy:       
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click Directory Privacy:                                                                                                                                                                 
3. Click the name of the directory for which you want to remove password protection.
4. Click Edit.
5. Under Security Settings, clear the Password to protect this directory check box.
6. Click Save. cPanel removes password protection for the directory.