Moxy Web Studio / Client help

Moxy Web Studio · Client guide

Upload your new website to your own hosting

You chose to host the site yourself, so we sent it as a zip. The site is plain HTML, CSS and images: no WordPress, no database, nothing to install. You put the files in your host's website folder, and that's it.

Watch it first

53 seconds, with narration. The steps below say the same thing in writing.

THE SHORT VERSION

Four steps on any host

  1. Open your host's File Manager and go to the website folder: usually public_html (httpdocs on Plesk, a folder named after your domain on DreamHost).
  2. Make a folder called old-site and move everything that is already there into it (the old website, index.php, .htaccess…). Leave .well-known and cgi-bin where they are. That keeps a backup and stops an old index.php from showing instead of your new site.
  3. Upload the zip and Extract it there. index.html must end up directly in the website folder.
  4. Open your domain in a private window. Turn on the host's free SSL (padlock) if it isn't on yet.
Right: index.html directly in public_html, the old site in old-site. Wrong: index.html inside a subfolderWhere the files go✓ Rightpublic_htmlold-sitecssimagesindex.htmlabout.htmlcontact.html✗ Wrongpublic_htmlmy-websitecssindex.htmlabout.htmlindex.html sits directly insidepublic_html. The old site waitsin old-site as a backup.index.html is one folder too deep:visitors get an empty page orthe old site. Move the files up.
index.html goes directly in the website folder, not one level down. Enlarge

Which guide is mine?

Look at who sends you the hosting bill.

Your hostGuide
GoDaddy (cPanel hosting), Bluehost, HostGator, Namecheap, InMotion, hosting.com / A2cPanel
HostingerHostinger
SiteGroundSiteGround
DreamHostDreamHost
IONOSIONOS
A host whose panel says PleskPlesk
Any other host with FTPFTP (FileZilla)
No hosting yetNetlify

All guides

cPanelGoDaddy (cPanel hosting), Bluehost, HostGator, Namecheap, InMotion, hosting.com (A2) and many moreHostingerhPanelSiteGroundSite ToolsDreamHostPleskused by many hosts, often in EuropeIONOSLinux web hosting (Webspace)FTP (FileZilla)works with any hostNo hosting yet (Netlify)free for a small site

On Wix, Squarespace, Shopify or a website builder?

  • Website builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, GoDaddy Websites + Marketing / Airo, Hostinger Website Builder, IONOS MyWebsite, Weebly, Google Sites) can't run uploaded files.
  • Reply to our email and we'll host the site for you instead; your domain stays yours. Or put it on Netlify and point your domain there.

Common problems

You seeDo this
The old site still showsAn old index.php or .htaccess is still in the website folder: move it into old-site. Then clear the host's cache and check in a private window.
"Index of /" or a list of filesindex.html is one folder too deep. Open the subfolder, select everything, Move it up one level.
A blank page or "403 Forbidden"Same: index.html isn't directly in the website folder.
Pages work but no pictures or stylingThe css or images folder didn't upload, or landed elsewhere. Upload again.
"Not secure" in the address barTurn on the host's free SSL. It can take a few hours after the files go up.
Your host's placeholder page ("Coming soon", "All set to go")Delete the placeholder file (often default.php or index.php).

The contact form

The contact form already works wherever you host the site: messages are emailed to the address you gave us, and replying answers the visitor. Send yourself a test after uploading. Want messages to go to a different address? Email hello@moxywebstudio.com.