How to connect to your hosting with FileZilla: what to enter, where your website files go, separate FTP accounts and SFTP.
Contents
A couple of files are easy to upload in your browser, using the cPanel File Manager (Managing files in cPanel). If you have a lot of files, or they are large, it is better to use an FTP program. The most popular free one is FileZilla.
What to enter in FileZilla
| Host | your domain, if it already points to us; if not, the server’s IP address from the email we sent when your hosting was set up |
| Username and password | your cPanel details, which are in the same email — or those of a separate FTP account, described below |
| Port | 21 |
| Encryption | “Require explicit FTP over TLS” — this stops your password and files being sent in the clear |
The first time you connect, FileZilla shows the server’s certificate and asks whether you trust it. Tick “Always trust this certificate in future sessions” and click OK.
Put your website files in the public_html folder. Addon domains and subdomains have their own folders — you can see them in cPanel, under Domains.
Separate access for a developer
Do not give a developer your cPanel password — create a separate FTP account for them. In cPanel, go to FTP Accounts, choose a username and password, and select the folder they will have access to. The username of such an account looks like name@your-domain.co.uk. When the work is finished, you can delete the account.
The number of FTP accounts you can create depends on your hosting plan. For ready-made settings for FileZilla and other programs, cPanel provides them in the same place — use the “Configure FTP Client” link next to the account you need.
You cannot see .htaccess
FileZilla sometimes hides files whose names start with a dot (.htaccess, .env). To show them, open the Server menu and choose “Force showing hidden files”.
SFTP
SFTP is the same kind of file transfer, but over SSH, so everything is encrypted. On shared hosting, we enable SSH on request — get in touch through the contact form and we will open access and tell you how to connect. On cloud servers SFTP works straight away: in FileZilla, choose the SFTP protocol and use the same username and password as for SSH.
If you cannot connect
- “530 Login authentication failed” — the username or password is wrong. For a separate FTP account, enter the whole username, including
@domain. - You connect, but the folder list will not open — turn on passive mode: File → Site Manager → the Transfer Settings tab → Passive.
- You are refused after several failed attempts — the server temporarily blocks an address that is guessing passwords. Wait a little, or get in touch through the contact form.
Didn’t find the answer? Ask our support team — we’ll help.