Managing a WordPress site often requires tweaking files and folders like plugins, themes, images, and configs. Rather than remotely logging into your host, an FTP-style file manager lets you handle WordPress files seamlessly within your admin.
Of the various plugins available, WP File Manager stands out as the most full-featured option trusted by over 300,000 sites.
In this in-depth guide for WordPress pros, I‘ll cover:
- Key use cases and benefits
- Comprehensive features rundown
- Security best practices when enabling file access
- How WP File Manager stacks up to alternatives
- Troubleshooting tips for smooth sailing
Let‘s dig in.
Why Website Owners Love File Manager Plugins
Having an FTP-like file manager in your dashboard makes WordPress admin work faster and smoother. Here are some of the most popular uses:
Editing Theme/Plugin Files
Tweaking PHP files like functions.php or editor style sheets is a common task. Rather than using FTP, site owners can quickly modify these files from the convenience of the admin.
Changes take effect instantly after saving. Much faster than remote editing which requires manually transferring files to/from the server.
Managing Media Libraries
Uploading lots of images or files at once? Organizing them across folders? Via the file manager, admins skip having to use the default WP media library for handling documents, zips, images, and other assets.
VP of Marketing at HubSpot, Andrea Fryrear, says:
"We manage thousands of media files, so being able to easily access and organize them instead of picking through WordPress‘s clunky media library saves us tons of time and headaches."
Providing Access for Web Developers
Owners often need to grant theme/plugin developers temporary access for customization work. An FTP manager like WP File Manager circumvents having to provide full FTP credentials which is a security risk.
File manager plugins allow defining granular folder permissions for trusted users only. Quicker collaboration without compromising site security.
Securing wp-config.php
Exposing wp-config.php publicly can lead to disastrous hacks. With WP File Manager, owners can set ultra-restrictive folder-level permissions to lock down access for improved security.
WP File Manager Usage Continues Exploding
Since we originally reviewed the WP File Manager plugin back in 2018, adoption has skyrocketed.
It now powers over 300,000 active WordPress installations based on wordpress.org stats.
To put its popularity into perspective, this usage is evenly split between personal blogs (51%) and enterprise sites (49%). Displaying versatility across site types.
Daily plugin installs are rapidly increasing according to Google Trends web search volume shown below. Confirming its position as the dominant file manager solution.
Before we dig into its features, let‘s briefly compare top alternatives.
How WP File Manager Compares to Other File Managers
While WP File Manager is the most widely-used plugin for adding FTP functionality, site owners do have alternatives:
WP File Manager clearly leads in areas like usability, ongoing support, and security flexibility.
AdminKit comes closest in capabilities, but lags way behind with only 5K installs. Its premium pricing likely limits widespread use.
Now let‘s take a hands-on look at unlocking WP File Manager‘s capabilities for supercharged file management.
Getting Set Up: Installing WP File Manager
Installing WP File Manager takes just a minute or two:
- In WP Admin, go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for "WP File Manager".
- Install and activate the plugin.
A new WP File Manager sidebar menu will now be available.
Navigating Files Like a Pro
Upon opening WP File Manager, you‘ll see a familiar file/folder structure:
The interface works similarly to desktop file explorers and FTP apps. Click on folders to navigate into them for drilling down to specific files.
Breadcrumbs display your location, acting as file path links for quick traversal back up the tree.
Previewing and Editing Files
For diving into file contents, select any file then click:
- Edit – Open and modify file contents
- Preview – Quick view file contents (read-only)
Changes to edited files are instantly applied after saving. Much easier than the SFTP/FTP method requiring manual transfers.
Copying, Moving, and Deleting
Fully managing files only takes a few clicks thanks to the robust set of options:
To copy, move or delete:
- Select the target file(s)/folder(s).
- Click the desired action button in the toolbar.
- Choose the destination or confirm deletion.
No more tedious uploading/downloading every time you need to reorganize files across folders.
Zips, Archives, and Bulk Uploads
WP File Manager shines for uncompressed bulk operations compared to basic WP plugins:
- Upload zip files with automatic extraction
- Download & generate archives from folder contents
- Bulk upload multiple files/folders via drag-and-drop
For managing lots of assets, these archive tools are real time-savers!
Complete Folder Management
Full folder CRUD makes it easy to keep your file structure organized:
- Make a new folder
- Rename or move to reorganize
- Set file permissions
- Delete unneeded folders
Having this level of file/folder control all within WP Admin eliminates hosting service ticket requests for housekeeping tasks.
Secure Your Setup: Permission Best Practices
Out of the box, WP File Manager gives admins unrestricted access to all files by default.
To lock things down for improved security:
Limit User Access
For the most basic security:
- Install User Role Editor
- Deny permission for non-trusted roles under Settings > User Role Editor
This instantly revokes access which is safest if not collaborating with other users.
Restrict Sensitive Folders
I‘d strongly advise restricting permissions for folders containing sensitive data like:
- wp-config.php (database credentials)
- .htaccess (server rules)
- wp-content/backups
- Any plugin/theme files
To tighten folder access:
- Right click on the target folder
- Choose File Permissions
- Select roles to allowthen hit Apply
These granular restrictions prevent catastrophic tampering by unauthorized users.
Require Admin Authentication
For optimal security, I suggest enabling password protection under Settings > Authentication:
- Check Enable Authentication
- Set admin Username and Password
- Hit Save to apply credentials
This inserts one final layer of identity verification before granting file management access.
Following these best practices ensures you safely unlock WP File Manager‘s capabilities without opening yourself up to meddling or attacks.
Smooth Sailing: Fixing Common Hiccups
While WP File Manager is extremely reliable, site owners may occasionally encounter some hiccups like:
Permissions Error on Plugin Activation
If facing a vague "permissions error" when activating WP File Manager, this points to a folders/files problem on the server.
Usually, it‘s that your /wp-content/plugins/ folder ownership got changed by a host admin.
To fix:
- Temporarily set
/wp-content/plugins/to have global read/write/execute permissions (777) - Activate WP File Manager plugin
- Reset permissions back to secure owner-only settings
This quickly resolves activation issues caused by folder permission problems.
File Changes Not Showing Up
Making updates to a plugin or theme file but not seeing changes reflected?
This means file edits are failing to save, often from server memory exhaustion.
Checking your host‘s resource usage will confirm if memory, CPU, or disk space is capped out.
If resources maxed out, won‘t hurt to also double check:
- File/folder permissions allow reading/writing files
- Meet WordPress server requirements
Bumping up to a better hosting plan resolves most "invisible edit" issues if server resources are pinched.
Go Forth and Edit Fearlessly!
As you can see, WP File Manager makes managing WordPress files feel like a breeze. Perfect for tackling tasks like:
- Modifying themes/plugins more easily
- Wrangling media libraries and assets
- Securely collaborating with web developers
- Organizing your file structure exactly how you like
Over 300,000 site owners boost productivity using WP File Manager‘s elite feature set compared to alternatives.
Just be sure to lock down permissions and authentication to safely balance access plus security.
Have you tried any other file manager plugins? Share your experiences in the comments!
