> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.hosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Password-protected directories in Plesk

> Secure your site by using Plesk to password-protect directories, requiring visitors to log in for access.

This article describes how to use Plesk to protect specific directories with a password. Visitors to password-protected directories must enter a username and password to view the directory's contents.

<Note>
  Plesk is no longer included with new hosting.com plans, but it is still available on legacy Managed WordPress accounts. You can install Plesk manually on unmanaged VPS and Dedicated servers.
</Note>

## Adding password protection to a directory

When you add password protection to a directory, site visitors are prompted for a username and password when they try to access it. They can only view the directory contents after typing a valid username and password.

<Note>
  When you protect a directory with a password, all directories beneath it are automatically protected as well.
</Note>

To watch a video that demonstrates the following procedure, please click below:

To add password protection to a directory, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Plesk.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your Plesk account, please see [this article](/docs/logging-in-and-out-of-plesk).

2. In the left sidebar, click **Websites & Domains**:\
   ![Plesk - Sidebar - Websites and Domains](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-plesk-sidebar-websites-and-domains.png)

3. Click the **Password-Protected Directories** icon.

4. Under **Tools**, click **Add Protected Directory**.

5. Under **Settings**, in the **Directory name** text box, type the name of the directory you want to protect.
   > 🚧 Important
   >
   > Do not include *httpdocs* in the directory name. Only type the name of the directory.

6. In the **Title of the protected area** text box, you can optionally type a name for the protected directory.

7. Click **OK**.

8. Under **Protected directories**, click the name of the directory you specified in step 5.

9. Under **Tools**, click **Add a User**.

10. Under **Protected directory user**, in the **Username** text box, type a name for the user.

11. In the **New Password** and **Confirm Password** text boxes, type the user's password.

12. Click **OK**. Password protection is now enabled for the directory.

## Removing password protection from a directory

You can remove password protection from a directory if you no longer want to protect it with a password. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Plesk.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your Plesk account, please see [this article](/docs/logging-in-and-out-of-plesk).

2. Locate the directory for which you want to remove password protection, and then select the check box to the left of the directory name.

3. Click **Remove Protection**.

4. On the **Removal Confirmation** page, select the **Confirm removal** check box.

5. Click **OK**. Plesk removes password protection for the directory.

## More information

For more information about Plesk, please visit [https://www.plesk.com](https://www.plesk.com).

## Related articles

* [Backing up and restoring databases in Plesk](/docs/backing-up-and-restoring-databases-with-plesk)

* [Changing your Plesk password](/docs/changing-your-plesk-password)