/uploads/ and there’s no index.html or index.php, Apache lists the folder contents. Indexes lets you decide if that’s what you want.
cPanel home → Advanced → Indexes
How it works
1
Pick a folder
The page shows a file-browser-style picker rooted at your home directory. Click into the folder you want to set indexing for.
2
Pick a mode
Four options:
3
Save
The change writes an
Options directive into a .htaccess file in that folder. Effect is immediate; the next request to the folder uses the new mode.When to disable indexing
If a folder doesn’t have an index file and you don’t want visitors browsing its contents, set it to No Indexing. Common cases:/uploads/or/wp-content/uploads/: visitors don’t need to see the full file tree./backups/: definitely don’t expose that.- Any folder containing unprotected scripts you don’t want listed.
index.html inside; Apache serves it instead of listing the folder. But Indexes is faster for one-off changes.
Common questions
I get a 500 error after changing the setting
I get a 500 error after changing the setting
The page wrote an
Options directive into .htaccess, and your server policy may not allow it. Edit .htaccess for that folder and remove the Options line, or set it back to Default System Setting in this tool. Open a ticket if it keeps recurring.The setting changed but visitors still see the old listing
The setting changed but visitors still see the old listing
Browser and CDN caching. Hard-refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R) or test in an incognito window. If you’re behind Cloudflare, purge cache for that path.
Should I use this or just add an index.html to every folder?
Should I use this or just add an index.html to every folder?
Either works for hiding listings. Indexes is per-folder via .htaccess, scriptable through this UI. Empty index.html is per-folder via a file you create. Indexes is faster to apply across many folders; the empty file is more portable if you migrate to another host.
Need a hand?
Open a ticket
Best for anything that needs an account check or a config change on our end.
Live chat
Faster for quick questions during business hours.