How do I change permissions for files and directories?

Every file and directory on your hosting account has permissions that determine who can read, modify, or execute it. In most cases, permissions are assigned automatically and do not require manual changes. However, there may be situations where you need to modify permissions-for example, when troubleshooting a website, securing files against modification, or allowing an application to write data to a specific directory.

Contents

• Understanding Permission Codes
• Default Permission Values
• Changing Permissions via SSH
• Changing Permissions via FTP

Understanding Permission Codes

Permissions can be displayed in two formats:

• Text format (e.g. rwxr-xr-x)
• Numeric format (e.g. 755)

Each permission consists of three possible actions:

Permission	Meaning
r	Read
w	Write
x	Execute

Permissions are assigned separately to:

1. Owner
2. Group
3. Others

Text Format Example

rwx rwx rwx

This means:

• Owner: Read, Write, Execute
• Group: Read, Write, Execute
• Others: Read, Write, Execute

Full access for everyone.

Another example:

rw- r-- r--

This means:

• Owner: Read and Write
• Group: Read only
• Others: Read only

Only the owner can modify the file.

Understanding Numeric Permissions

Numeric permissions are based on the following values:

Permission	Value
Read	4
Write	2
Execute	1

You add the values together to create a permission number.

Example: 777

4 + 2 + 1 = 7

Applied to owner, group, and others:

777

Equivalent to:

rwxrwxrwx

Example: 644

6 = 4 + 2
4 = 4
4 = 4

Equivalent to:

rw-r--r--

Recommended Default Permissions

Files

The recommended permissions for files are:

644

This allows:

• Owner: Read and Write
• Group: Read
• Others: Read

Directories

The recommended permissions for directories are:

755

This allows:

• Owner: Read, Write, Execute
• Group: Read, Execute
• Others: Read, Execute

These are the default permissions recommended for most websites and applications.

Changing Permissions via SSH

Before using SSH commands, ensure SSH access is enabled for your hosting account.

Change Permissions for a Single File

Example:

chmod 644 myfile.php

This assigns the recommended permissions to the file.

Change Permissions for All Files

To set permissions 644 on all files within the current directory and its subdirectories:

find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 -n 1 chmod -v 644

Change Permissions for a Single Directory

Example:

chmod 755 mydirectory

This assigns the recommended directory permissions.

Change Permissions for All Directories

To set permissions 755 on all directories within the current directory and its subdirectories:

find . -type d -print0 | xargs -0 -n 1 chmod -v 755

These commands are useful when website files have incorrect permissions after a migration, backup restoration, or manual upload.

Changing Permissions via FTP

You can also modify permissions using an FTP client such as:

• WinSCP
• FileZilla
• Cyberduck

Steps

1. Connect to your hosting account using FTP.
2. Locate the file or directory you want to modify.
3. Right-click the item.
4. Select Properties, Permissions, or File Attributes (the exact option depends on the FTP client).
5. Modify the permissions using either:
   • Checkboxes (Read, Write, Execute)
   • Numeric values (e.g. 644 or 755)
6. Save the changes.

Most FTP clients also allow permissions to be applied recursively to all files and subdirectories.

Common Permission Values

Permission	Typical Use
644	Standard files
755	Standard directories
600	Sensitive configuration files
700	Private directories accessible only by the owner
777	Full access for everyone (not recommended)

Security Tip: Avoid using 777 permissions unless absolutely necessary. Grant only the permissions required for the application to function correctly.

Summary

File and directory permissions control who can read, modify, and execute content on your hosting account. The recommended default values are:

Files: 644
Directories: 755

Permissions can be changed either through SSH using the chmod command or through an FTP client using the file properties menu. Proper permission settings improve both security and application stability.