MIME types in cPanel

This article describes how to use cPanel to configure custom MIME types for your web site. MIME types are used to specify how certain file types are processed by the web browser.

What are MIME types?

MIME types specify how a web browser should handle certain types of files. For example, the application/pdf MIME type instructs browsers to handle files with a.pdf extension as Portable Document Format files. If you have custom PDF files with a.mypdf extension, you could add a custom MIME type so browsers correctly interpret your.mypdf files as PDF files.

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Note

People are sometimes confused about the difference between MIME types and Apache handlers. MIME types instruct the browser how to process files, whereas Apache handlers instruct the server how to process files.

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Warning

Before you add a custom MIME type, check the list of MIME types that are already defined for the web site. Adding custom MIME types can easily alter how your web site functions and cause unintended effects.

Adding a custom MIME type

To add a custom MIME type, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.

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   Note

   If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

2. Open the MIME Types tool:

• If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Advanced section, click MIME Types:
  

• If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the ADVANCED section of the cPanel home page, click MIME Types:
  

3. Under Create A MIME Type, in the MIME Type text box, type the MIME type that you want to add. For example, type application/pdf.

4. In the Extension(s) text box, type the file extension or extensions that you want to add for the MIME type. For example, type mypdf.

5. Click Add. cPanel adds the custom MIME type.

Deleting a custom MIME type

You can delete custom MIME types at any time. However, you cannot delete system-wide MIME types.

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Note

Please open a support ticket at https://my.hosting.com if you are experiencing issues with a system-wide MIME type.

To delete a custom MIME type, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.

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   Note

   If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.

2. Open the MIME Types tool:

• If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Advanced section, click MIME Types:
  

• If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the ADVANCED section of the cPanel home page, click MIME Types:
  

3. Under User Defined MIME Types, under Actions, click Delete for the custom MIME type that you want to delete.

4. Click Delete MIME Type. cPanel deletes the custom MIME type.

More Information

For more information about MIME types, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_media_type.

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