How to Change File Permissions in File Manager
Sometimes you need to fix permissions to clear a "forbidden" error or secure a file. File Manager changes them in a couple of clicks.
Step-by-step
- Open Files → File Manager and locate the file or folder.
- Right-click it → Change Permissions (or select it and click Permissions in the toolbar).
- Set files to 644 — tick Read/Write for owner, Read for group and world. This suits almost all web files.
- Set folders to 755 — owner full, group and world read+execute, so the folder is browsable.
- For sensitive config files, use 600 so only the owner can read them — see file permissions.
- Click Change Permissions and re-test the page or script.
💡 Good to know
- Never set 777 — it is insecure and a common cause of 500 errors.
- A "Forbidden" error often means a folder needs 755 or an index file is missing.
- Apply changes recursively only when you are sure — it affects every file inside.