Knowledge Base

Default domain page is shown on domain hosted on Plesk server despite existence of valid index file

Symptom

Domain example.com was created in Plesk using the button Domains > Add Domain.
After that, the content of the website was transferred to the current server from another Plesk server or added manually.
When accessing a website in a browser, the Default webpage generated for example.com is displayed, despite that fact, the valid Index file, for example, index.php or Default.aspx exists in the domain's document root.

Cause

A new empty domain with a default virtual host structure was created before the content of the domain was imported/created.

The Domain Default Page (index.html file) is automatically deployed during the domain creation. By default, index.html has priority over other index files. The second index file is not processed due to the fact that it has a lower priority.

Resolution

In order to increase the priority for another index file over index.html, perform the following:

On Plesk for Linux

On Plesk for Windows

Log in to Plesk.
Go to Domains > example.com > Hosting & DNS > Apache & nginx.
Switch the option Index files to Enter custom value.
Place the required index file at the beginning of the line, for example:
Apply changes.

Log in to Plesk.
Go to Domains > example.com > Hosting & DNS > IIS Settings.
In the field Default documents, change the order of index files and place the required file above the Index.html, for example:
Apply changes.

Note: In case the default index.html file is not required, it is also possible to rename or delete it in Domains > example.com > File Manager.