Adjusting file permissions in the Webspace Explorer
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Valid for Web Hosting.
File permissions allow you to define who is authorised to read, write, or execute your files and folders in the webspace. This is a basic security function and often a requirement for the correct functioning of web applications such as WordPress or Joomla!
In this article, we will show you how you can easily adjust the permissions for your files and folders using the Webspace Explorer dialogue box.
Basics: What do the permissions mean?
Each file and folder on your web space has permissions for three different user types.
- Owner: This is you, as the user of the web space.
- Group: Users who belong to the same group. This is technically relevant for IONOS Webhosting, but is usually not directly manageable for you, as a user.
- Others: All other visitors to your website.
Three basic rights can be assigned for each of these types:
- Read: The content of a file may be read, or the files in a folder may be listed.
- Write: A file may be changed or deleted. Files may be added to, or removed from a folder.
- Execute: A file (e.g. a script) may be executed. A folder can be opened to access its contents.
Adjusting permissions: step-by-step instructions
Please Note
The access rights for the clickandbuilds folder, if present, must not be changed, as this may impair the functionality of the IONOS Click & Build applications.
- The permission setting 777 (full access for everyone) should never be used. It poses a significant security risk, as it allows any internet user to modify your files or inject malicious code.
- Log in to your IONOS account.
- Click Menu > Hosting in the title bar. If you have multiple contracts, select the desired Hosting contract.
- Click on Use Webspace in the Webspace area. The Webspace Explorer page opens.
- Search for the file or folder whose permissions you want to change.
- In the corresponding line under the Actions column, click on the three dots and select Change Permissions in the context menu.
- A new window opens. You now have two options:
Visual mode (recommended for beginners): tick or untick the read, write, and execute options for the respective user types (User, Group, Public).
Octal mode (for advanced users): Enter the desired three-digit number combination directly in the Octal Representation field.
The Octal Representation and Text Representation fields (e.g. rwxr-xr-x) update automatically and serve as a check. - Click on Save to apply the changes. The new permissions are active immediately.
Default values for files and folders
When new files or folders are created in your webspace, the system automatically assigns them certain permissions. These default values are based on the technical platform of your contract.
To determine the default values for your webspace, check your contract date:
| Your contract date | Folder | Files | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| From September 15, 2025 | 755 | 644 | Default values of the new platform. |
| Until September 14, 2025 | 705 | 604 | Standard values for existing contracts. (Alternatively, 755 / 644 often also work) |
Special features of web applications (CMS)
The default values mentioned above are generally suitable for common content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Joomla!, or TYPO3.
Should any problems occur (e.g., error messages when uploading images or updating plugins), please check the following points:
- Tip for older contracts: If your contract was created before September 15, 2025, the default permissions (705 for folders/604 for files) may be too restrictive for some modern applications. Try changing the permissions to 755 (folders) and 644 (files) as a test.
- The manufacturer's documentation contains information about specific plugins that require temporarily different write permissions (e.g., for cache folders). Please refer to the manufacturer's instructions for details.