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How to upload website files using an FTP client[Filezilla]
A file transfer protocol account (FTP account) is a type of user account that enables the transfer of files with a host computer by using FTP services.
An FTP account is created and maintained on an FTP server for users seeking FTP services.
An FTP account consists of an FTP host, username, and password, and works similarly to a standard user account.
With an FTP account you can access and manage all website files(upload, update, delete, download etc) using an FTP client without having to log into the cPanel.
During the registration for a hosting account, the FTP account credentials are sent to your email together with the cPanel credentials
To view FTP Accounts via cPanel:
Step 1: Log in to your cPanel account
Step 2: Click FTP Accounts under the Files section.
The FTP accounts will be listed down. Click on Configure FTP Client to view more details of the particular account.
To use FTP services, you will need to install an FTP client. The most popular FTP clients include:
- FileZilla – It is an open-source FTP client for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- CoreFTP – It is a secure FTP client for Windows.
- Cyberduck - It is an easy-to-use FTP client for Windows and Mac
- Smart FTP – An FTP client for Windows
- WinSCP – It is a popular FTP client for Windows
Uploading files with FileZilla
FileZilla is an open-source FTP client available on multiple platforms like Linux, Mac, and Windows.
Uploading files with FTP can be life-saving when you have large-sized files as uploading such files through cPanel File Manager can cause an error in uploading.
To use the FileZilla FTP client, to upload and manage website files, follow these steps:
Step 1: Install FileZilla
Download the FileZilla FTP client from the FileZilla website using this link: https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?show_all=1.
The installation process is quite simple and the same with other software applications installations.
Step 2: Connect to your FTP account
After installing open your FileZilla FTP client. In the quick connect bar at the top, you will find a text box to provide the hostname. Enter your FTP hostname, which can be the IP address of your server or your website domain name.
Enter the username and password. These credentials are usually sent by your host to your email during your hosting account setup. They also happen to be the same as the cPanel login details in most cases.
Enter Port on which you want to connect to your FTP server. In most cases, it is 21, but if you leave this field empty then FileZilla will automatically find the appropriate port to connect.
Click “Quickconnect” to connect to the FTP server.
I use Linux OS so my FileZilla application might look slightly different from yours if you use Windows or Mac.
Step 4: Uploading and managing website files
After a successful connection, you will be able to see a directory tree on the right side too.
The FileZilla window, as well as that of other FTP clients, is divided vertically into two; the left side contains a directory tree of your local/PC/laptop storage while the right-hand side is your hosting account storage.
To upload the files, navigate to where the files are located in the left-side pane. Then navigate to the directory where you want to upload the files on the right-hand pane.
Select all the files and folders you want to upload in the left, drag and drop them to the right-hand pane. You can alternatively select them, right-click on them and select “Upload”.
The FTP client (FileZilla) also lets you do additional operations like in cPanel file manager such as:
- Creating files and directories
- Renaming files and directories
- Downloading files and directories
- Deleting files and directories
- Setting files and directories permissions
All you need to do is to right-click on the file/directory and these options will appear.
Conclusion
In this article, you have learned what an FTP client is, examples of popular FTP clients, and how to upload and manage website files using the Filezilla FTP client.
