# Providing default files

You may distribute a set of default files and folders to all users by placing them in directory that is readable by the webserver user. This allows you to overwrite the files that are shipped by default with Nextcloud in `core/skeleton`. That custom directory should then be configured in the `config.php` via the configuration option `skeletondirectory` (see [Configuration Parameters](/link/919)). Leave empty to not copy any skeleton files.

These files will be copied only to new users after their initial login, and existing users will not see files that are added to this directory after their first login. The files in the `skeleton` directory are copied into the users data directories, so they may change and delete the files without affecting the originals.

This screenshot shows a set of photos in the `skeleton` directory.

![Set of photos in the Nextcloud skeleton directory](https://docs.cocobook.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/skeleton-files.png)

They appear on the user's Nextcloud Files page just like any other files.

![Nextcloud Files page showing default skeleton files visible after first login](https://docs.cocobook.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/skeleton-files1.png)

> **提示**
>
> Overwriting the files in `core/skeleton` is not recommended, because those changes will be overwritten on the next update of the Nextcloud server.

## Default file templates

The default path for user templates is at `/Templates` (translated in the user's language). If you need to override this path for all users, you can set

    occ config:app:set core defaultTemplateDirectory --value="CustomPath"

This will only apply to new users.

> **提示**
>
> To create their own template directory, users should click the `+ New` button and then `+ Create templates folder`.