---
title: "How to manage index files"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/website-management/index-files/"
description: "Control the way Apache manages directories using SiteWorx. You can set the files Apache looks for when a browser requests a URL that doesn't end in a file name…"
vertical: "Sites & Stores"
date: "2019-09-10"
last_modified: "2026-06-30"
---

# How to manage index files

## Overview

You can set the default files Apache looks for when a browser requests a URL that doesn’t end in a file name. You can also toggle whether Apache displays the contents of a directory if no default files are found.

## Step by step instructions

1. Log in to your SiteWorx account.
    
    
    - If you do not know your password, click **Forgot your password** on the login page.
2. From the main menu, click **Hosting Features > Htaccess**.
3. Click the **Index Management** link for the directory that you would like to manage.
4. In the **Default Index Files** field, type a list of default index files, one file name per line.
5. From the **Directory Listing** drop-down menu, select the desired behavior for when a browser requests a URL that ends in a back slash, directory, and no default index files are found.  
    If set to:
    
    
    - **No:** The browser will display a 403 Forbidden message.
    - **Yes:** The browser will display a list of the contents of the directory.
    - **Inherited:** The setting will be inherited from a parent directory.
6. From the **Directory Listing Style** field, select the desired listing style.  
    If set to:
    
    
    - **Inherited:** The directory list will inherit the settings defined for the parent directory.
    - **Simple Listing:** The directory list will simply include the directory’s file names.
    - **Fancy Listing:** The directory list will include timestamps and file sizes.
7. Click **Update.**