Improving Plesk File Manager UX: Real-World Experience

Source: Dev.to

Managing files efficiently is one of the most critical aspects of server and hosting management. For system administrators and hosting providers, a well‑designed file manager directly impacts productivity, troubleshooting speed, and overall user satisfaction.

At HostedFly, we actively use Plesk across multiple production environments. While Plesk is a powerful and stable control panel, real‑world usage reveals several areas where the File Manager experience could be improved.

Common Issues with Plesk File Manager

During routine server management tasks, especially on systems hosting multiple websites, some limitations become noticeable:

• Large directories quickly become cluttered
• No visual grouping by file type
• Limited sorting and filtering options
• Difficult navigation in mixed‑content folders
• Reduced visibility when managing hundreds of files

When working with complex web applications, configuration files, media assets, and backups in the same directory, these issues slow down workflow and increase the chance of human error.

Real‑World Usage Experience

In real hosting environments, we often manage directories that contain:

• Website assets
• Configuration files
• Backup archives
• Temporary system files

Without a clear visual separation or grouping logic, finding the right file becomes unnecessarily time‑consuming. This is especially noticeable when:

• Migrating websites
• Debugging production issues
• Performing manual backups
• Managing client file structures

Because of these challenges, we shared our feedback directly with the Plesk community as a feature request.

Why File Manager UX Matters

A control panel is not just a technical interface — it is a productivity tool. Better file‑management UX provides:

• Faster troubleshooting
• Fewer operational mistakes
• Improved workflow efficiency
• Better experience for hosting providers and developers
• Reduced support workload

Even small usability improvements can significantly affect daily operations, especially for hosting companies managing dozens or hundreds of websites.

Suggested Improvements for Plesk File Manager

Based on hands‑on experience, the following enhancements would greatly improve usability:

Grouping Files by Type

Allow users to group files such as:

• Images
• Scripts
• Configuration files
• Archives

This feature alone would dramatically improve navigation clarity.

Advanced Sorting Options

Sorting by:

• File type
• Size
• Last modified date
• Extension

would make large directories easier to manage.

Better Visual Hierarchy

Clear icons, spacing, and layout improvements would help users instantly recognize file types and structures.

Why We Shared This Feedback

At HostedFly, we actively optimize hosting environments to ensure performance, stability, and usability. Our goal in sharing this feedback with the Plesk community was simple:

➡️ Help improve real‑world usability for hosting providers and system administrators.

We believe that continuous feedback between users and platform developers leads to better products for everyone.

Final Thoughts

Plesk remains one of the most powerful and reliable control panels available today. However, improving the File Manager’s UX would significantly enhance daily usability and efficiency.

Small interface improvements can lead to:

• Faster workflows
• Fewer errors
• Better user experience

If you are looking for optimized Plesk hosting solutions or performance‑focused infrastructure, you can learn more at HostedFly.