How to change the default content for newly created domains in Plesk?

Anton Kuznetsov

Updated February 09, 2026 00:18

Plesk for Windows kb: how-to Plesk for Linux ABT: Group B

Applicable to:

Note: The solution is applicable by Plesk Administrators and Plesk resellers.

Click on a section to expand

Changing the default page via Plesk

Download zip file, according to the installed version, which contains files of default website:
- for Plesk Obsidian for Linux: Linux_skeleton_obsidian.zip
- for Plesk Onyx for Linux: Linux_default_skeleton.zip

for Plesk Obsidian for Windows: Windows_skeleton_obsidian.zip
for Plesk Onyx for Windows : Windows_default_skeleton.zip
1. Modify the files inside this zip file according to your needs (website files are located inside the /httpdocs directory). Adding extra directories is not supported.
2. Once done, go to Plesk > Tools & Settings > Virtual Host Template:
3. Click Browse... (or Choose File) > Select the modified zip file > Click Send File:

Changing the default page via SSH & RDP

Modify the Default Virtual Host Templates:
1. Connect to the Plesk server via SSH/RDP
2. Modify the default template content inside the following directory:
  - On Linux: /var/www/vhosts/.skel/0/httpdocs/
  - On Windows Server (just paste this path in Windows Explorer to open): %plesk_vhosts%.skel\0\httpdocs\
Create or modify the Virtual Host Template for a Reseller:
1. Connect to the Plesk server via SSH/RDP
2. In Windows, start a command prompt as an Administrator
3. Extract the Reseller ID with the following command:
  
  # plesk db "select id, cname, pname from clients where type='reseller'"
4. Copy the default template folder with ID 0 with the Reseller ID. For example, if the Reseller ID is 2:
  - On Linux: Copy /var/www/vhosts/.skel/0 folder to /var/www/vhosts/.skel/2
  - On Windows Server: Copy %plesk_vhosts%.skel\0 folder to %plesk_vhosts%.skel\2
5. Modify the Reseller template content inside the Reseller template directories. According to the example shown in step 4:
  - On Linux: /var/www/vhosts/.skel/2/httpdocs/
  - On Windows Server (just paste this path in Windows Explorer to open): %plesk_vhosts%.skel\2\httpdocs\