Premium Feature: The Public Folder is included in all Premium and Business plans. You need to enable it from the Public section on my.pcloud.com
What is the Public Folder?
The Public Folder works like a file server for static content, but without having to run a file server on your home computer:
- Every file and folder placed in the Public Folder gets its own direct link
- Direct links trigger downloads or previews depending on file type
- You can host static HTML websites
- You can embed images and videos
How to Enable the Public Folder
The Public Folder is not enabled by default in your account:
- Open pcloud.com and log in to your account
- Click on the Public Folder card from the Explore section at the top
- Enable the Public Folder
How Direct Links Work
Every file and folder in the Public Folder receives its own direct link:
Direct Link to a Folder
- Visualizes its content in a default index page
- Unless there's a proper HTML-formatted text file in it
- Opens a public directory where all contents are listed
Direct Link to a File
- Triggers a download action or preview in the browser
- Depends on the file type (e.g., PDFs preview, archives download)
How to Get a Direct Link
To create a direct link to any file or folder in your Public folder:
- Go to the Public Folder section on my.pCloud
- Select the file or folder you want to share
- The direct link will be copied to the clipboard
Hosting a Static HTML Website
Use pCloud as a hosting solution for your static website:
- Put HTML-formatted text files and linked graphics in the Public Folder (or a sub-folder)
- Click Share and Copy Link on the main directory where your site's resources are
- This copies the index's URL to the clipboard
- Preview your website by visiting the link
Adding a Custom 404 Error Page
You can add your own Error 404 HTML page to your website:
- Store "404.html" in the same project folder as your other HTML files
- Organize as: Project Folder → index.html → 404.html → other files
Note: If you don't provide a custom 404 page, pCloud's default Error 404 page will be shown when content is not accessible.
Embedding Images and Videos
To simplify image embedding from the Public Folder:
- Click Share on an image or a video in the Public Folder
- Choose the Embed option (available alongside Get Link)
- This copies the direct link of the file to the clipboard along with an embed code
- Paste it directly into any existing code, forum, or website
You can also embed images directly in HTML code using tags with sources from direct links to the Public folder:
Linking Custom Domains
While there's no built-in option to directly connect the Public Folder with a domain of your choice:
- You can create a subdomain from your domain using a CNAME record
- Point it to the pCloud domain
- Configure SSL properly to avoid security warnings
Security Considerations
Important security notice for the Public Folder:
Warning: Every file placed inside the Public Folder receives its own URL and becomes public. Be cautious with the content you add to the Public Folder.
- URLs are not very easy to guess but can still be accessed by third parties
- Anyone who changes the link can access the parent folders of items you share
- Use the Public Folder only for content you intend to showcase to the world wide web
Securing Public Folder Content
To prevent access to parent folders:
- Add an empty "index.html" file in a sub-folder
- This makes the parent folder inaccessible to others
Note: You cannot password-protect the direct links of the Public Folder.
How to Stop a Direct Link
Since each file receives its own direct link once placed inside the Public Folder:
Stop Individual Links
- Remove the file from the Public Folder
- The direct link will no longer work
Stop All Direct Links
- Find the purple Public Folder in My pCloud
- Click the Deactivate Public Folder button
- This stops all direct links at once
- Your Public Folder will be converted to a regular blue folder
Difference between Direct Links and Shared Links
Direct Links are created for files and folders stored in the Public Folder. They provide direct access or download, without showing any extra interface. These links are often used for embedding content or for hosting purposes.
Shared Links can be created for any file or folder. They open a pCloud page where recipients can view or download the content using an interface that includes buttons and sorting options. Shared Links are mainly intended for easy sharing with others.