FTP vs SFTP
Both move files between your computer and your hosting account. Plain FTP on port 21 sends your password and files unencrypted, which is risky on shared office networks and public WiFi. SFTP runs over SSH on port 22 and encrypts everything. Our recommendation is simple: use SFTP whenever your plan supports it, and use FTP with explicit TLS, called FTPS, otherwise.
Your Login Details
Your main cPanel username and password work for SFTP and FTP out of the box. The hostname is your server name from the welcome email, or your domain once DNS points to us.
Creating Extra FTP Accounts
Never share your main cPanel password with developers or designers. Instead:
- Open FTP Accounts in cPanel.
- Enter a username and strong password.
- Set the directory to the specific folder they need, for example public_html/blog. The account cannot see anything above that folder.
- Share the details securely, and delete the account when the work is finished.
Setting Up FileZilla
- Download FileZilla Client from the official FileZilla project site.
- Open Site Manager, click New Site, and choose SFTP as the protocol.
- Enter host, port 22, your username and password, then click Connect.
- Local files show on the left, server files on the right. Drag and drop to transfer. Your website files belong inside public_html.
Common Problems
- Connection refused or timeout. Your office firewall may block ports 21 or 22, or your IP may have been blocked after repeated wrong passwords. Open a ticket with your public IP and we will check.
- Uploaded site shows old content. Confirm you uploaded into public_html and not the home folder, then clear the browser cache.
- Permission errors. Folders should be 755 and files 644 on our servers. Avoid setting 777; it is insecure and our servers reject scripts in such folders.
Need a hand with your first upload? Our support team will guide you step by step.
