**Root Explorer** puts a full file manager right inside your Joomla back end, so you can manage your site's files without FTP, cPanel or a separate app.
- Browse your folders in a clean, familiar table view with size, permissions and modified-date columns.
- Open text files in the built-in editor and save changes in place with Ctrl/Cmd+S.
- Upload multiple files at once, download anything, create, rename, copy, move or delete files and folders, change permissions (chmod), and zip or extract archives — all from one screen.
Root Explorer was built security-first. It runs **only in the administrator** and is locked to **Super Users**. Every action is protected by a CSRF token, and all browsing is **jailed to a configurable root folder** — by default your Joomla installation. Directory traversal, absolute paths, symlink escapes and zip-slip attacks are all blocked. The extension makes **no external calls**: no telemetry, no license phone-home, nothing leaves your server. Whether you're editing a template file, dropping in an image, unpacking an archive or fixing a stubborn permission, Root Explorer gives you a fast, safe way to do it — from anywhere you can reach your admin panel.
Installation
- Log in to the Joomla administrator as a Super User.
- Go to System → Install → Extensions.
- On the Upload Package File tab, drop in
com_rootexplorer-1.0.0.zip. - Wait for the success message.
- Open it from Components → Root Explorer.
License
Root Explorer is commercial software distributed under an open-source license. This page explains both the software license that governs the code (the GNU GPL) and the commercial terms that govern your purchase (downloads, updates and support). Read both sections — they cover different things.
1. Software License — GNU GPL v2 or later
Because Root Explorer runs inside and links against the Joomla!® CMS, which is itself licensed under the GNU General Public License, the Root Explorer source code is likewise licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or (at your option) any later version ("GPL").
Under the GPL you are free to:
- use the software on any number of websites, personal or commercial;
- study and modify the full, un-obfuscated PHP source code;
- redistribute the software, provided you keep it under the same GPL terms and retain the copyright and license notices.
The standard GPL notice that applies to every source file:
Root Explorer for Joomla — Copyright © 2026 SaintArt Designs.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
The complete text of the GPL v2 ships with the product in LICENSE.txt and is available at gnu.org.
2. Commercial Terms — what your purchase includes
The GPL covers the code. It does not cover services. When you buy a Root Explorer subscription from SaintArt Designs you are paying for a service package around the software:
3. Support
Access to SaintArt Designs support for installation, configuration and troubleshooting during your subscription.
4. Trademarks
Joomla!® is a registered trademark of Open Source Matters, Inc. SaintArt Designs and Root Explorer are not affiliated with or endorsed by Open Source Matters, Inc.
Documentation
You can find the documentation here
Support
Reach us through our contact form
