Web Hosting: FTP in cPanel

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard communication protocol used for the transfer of computer files from a server to a client on a computer network, so it is a way to manage files on the web hosting. An FTP program like FileZilla is used to login to FTP and manage web hosting files this way.

Note: To manage web hosting files directly from the built-in web hosting cPanel (control panel), see the HelpDesk article: Access File Manager in cPanel 

A main FTP account is setup by default to go to the main website directory, and uses these login details:

• Server/Host/Hostname/IP address: 70.32.23.51 (can be seen in the main cPanel account view, under "Shared IP Address")
• Port: 21
• Username: main cPanel username (found in main cPanel account view, under "Current User")
• Password: main cPanel password (if needed, see article: Change cPanel Password)

To find your FTP settings, manage them, and add new FTP accounts:

• Login to cPanel from a web browser
• From the main cPanel page, search at the top for "ftp", then click on "FTP Accounts"

• In the FTP Account page, you can add an FTP account, view existing FTP accounts, and change passwords

Note: If you are creating a custom FTP account that goes directly into the folder for the primary domain on the account, during the FTP account creation process, the "Directory" field will need to be changed. After choosing which domain to use, the "Directory" field will automatically populate with a folder that is named the same as the domain, but if you want the FTP directory to go straight to the primary domain's folder, you will need to change the "Directory" field to say "public_html". You can verify which domain is the primary domain by going on cPanel to the main overview page (click on the cPanel logo or "Tools" in the top left of the page), and under "General Information", it will say what the primary domain is.

Note: Setting up and using FTP through cPanel will work best and be automatically setup if you connect to the website hosting DNS (See HelpDesk article: Point Domain(s) to New Web Hosting).