FTP (File Transfer Protocol) accounts let you upload and download files to your hosting account using dedicated FTP software. This is typically faster and more reliable than the browser-based File Manager for large transfers.
Please note: Screens and options may vary slightly depending on your cPanel version and hosting plan.
When You Would Use This
Create FTP accounts when you or a colleague/developer needs to transfer files to the server, particularly for large uploads or regular file management.
Creating an FTP Account
- Log in to your cPanel account.
- In the Files section, click FTP Accounts.
- Enter the following details:
- Log In — A username for the FTP account. - Domain — Select the associated domain. - Password — Set a strong password. - Directory — The folder this FTP account will have access to. By default, it's set to a folder matching the username inside public_html. Change this to public_html to give access to the entire website, or to / for full account access (use with caution). - Quota — Set a disk space limit for this FTP user, or choose Unlimited.
- Click Create FTP Account.
FTP Connection Details
| Setting | Value | |---------|-------| | FTP Server | ftp.yourdomain.com or your server's IP address | | FTP Port | 21 (FTP) or 22 (SFTP) | | Username | The full FTP username (e.g. [email protected]) | | Password | The password you set when creating the account | | Protocol | FTP with TLS (FTPS) or SFTP recommended |
Managing FTP Accounts
On the FTP Accounts page, you can:
- Change Password — Click Change Password next to the account.
- Change Quota — Click Change Quota to adjust the disk space limit.
- Delete — Click Delete to remove the FTP account. The files in the directory are not deleted.
- Configure FTP Client — Click the link to download a pre-configured connection file for popular FTP clients.
Special FTP Accounts
cPanel creates some FTP accounts automatically:
- Your main cPanel account — You can connect via FTP using your cPanel username and password. This gives access to your entire home directory.
- Anonymous FTP — If enabled by your hosting provider, allows public downloads. This is disabled by default on most servers.
Tips
- Always use SFTP or FTPS (FTP over TLS) rather than plain FTP. Plain FTP transmits passwords and data in clear text, which is a security risk.
- Create separate FTP accounts for different users or purposes. This limits each user's access to only the directories they need.
- If you're having connection issues, try passive mode in your FTP client and check that your hosting provider hasn't blocked FTP on your IP.
What Next?
- Connecting with an FTP Client (FileZilla) — Step-by-step FTP client setup.
- Understanding and Setting File Permissions — Set correct permissions on uploaded files.
