Short answer: Open Modify Default Document in your control panel at controlpanel.infosaic.com. It sets which file is served when somebody visits a folder without naming a page. On a Windows server that is usually default.htm, default.asp or default.aspx, but you can specify any extension you like, and the change takes effect immediately.
Applies to: Infosaic Windows web hosting · shared and virtual servers
When somebody types your domain without naming a file, the web server has to decide what to send them. The default document setting is that decision, and it is the reason a site sometimes shows a directory listing or an error instead of the home page.
On a Microsoft environment the usual candidates are default.htm, default.asp and default.aspx. If your site was built with something else — index.html and index.php are the common cases — the server needs to be told.
Changing the setting
- Sign in at controlpanel.infosaic.com.
- Open Modify Default Document.
- Add or reorder the extensions you want.
- Save.
When adding new extensions, a space is not required — each one is separated by a comma. The change is applied instantly, so you can test it in a browser straight away.
Order matters more than the list does
The server works down the list and serves the first file it finds. So if default.htm is above index.html and both exist in a folder, visitors get default.htm — even if index.html is the page you have been editing.
That is the single commonest cause of “I uploaded a new home page and the old one is still showing”. Before assuming a caching problem, check whether there is a second candidate file higher up the list.
Put the name you actually use at the top, and delete the ones you do not. A short, deliberate list is easier to reason about than a long inherited one, and it removes a whole class of confusing behaviour.
If the wrong page or no page appears
- A directory listing appears. No file in the folder matches the list — add the right extension, or rename the file.
- A 403 or 404 appears at the root. Same cause, with directory browsing switched off.
- An old page appears. Another candidate file is higher in the order. Check the list, then check the folder.
- It works at the root but not in a subfolder. Each folder needs a file matching the list; the setting is server-wide but the files are not.
- Case matters less than you think on Windows, but tidiness helps. Keep filenames lower case and consistent.
If the page still will not load after that, open a ticket from the control panel with the exact address you are testing. We can see what the server is doing with the request.
Questions and answers
What is a default document?
The file the web server sends when a visitor requests a folder without naming a page, such as the root of your domain.
Where do I change it?
In Modify Default Document in your control panel at controlpanel.infosaic.com.
What are the usual default documents on a Windows server?
default.htm, default.asp and default.aspx, though any extension can be specified.
How do I add several extensions?
Separate each one with a comma. A space is not required.
Does the order of the list matter?
Yes. The server serves the first matching file it finds, so a file higher in the list wins.
How long does the change take?
It is applied immediately.
Why does my site show a list of files instead of the home page?
No file in that folder matches any entry in the default document list.
I uploaded a new home page but the old one still shows. Why?
There is probably a second file in the folder that is higher up the default document order.
Related articles
- Setting up custom error pages
- Home folder, redirects and site security settings
- Creating virtual directories
- Stopping and restarting your website
- Checking which extensions your server supports
- How do I contact tech support?
Still stuck?
Open a support ticket from your hosting control panel at controlpanel.infosaic.com — that is the fastest route, because it reaches the team who can already see your account. You can also email [email protected].