To upload a website to hosting via FTP you need three things: an FTP client like FileZilla, the login credentials your hosting provider sent you, and your website files ready on your computer. With those in hand, the whole process takes under ten minutes.
What Is FTP and Why Use It to Publish Websites?
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for moving files between your computer and a remote server. When you purchase a hosting plan, your provider enables an FTP server on your account so you can upload, download, edit, and organize your site's files.
Even though modern control panels like cPanel include a web-based file manager, FTP remains the go-to choice for its speed, the ability to upload entire folders at once, and seamless integration with code editors.
What You Need Before You Start
- FTP client: FileZilla is free, cross-platform, and the most widely used. Download it from the official site.
- FTP credentials: Your provider includes these in the welcome email. They consist of a host (usually your domain or an IP), a username, a password, and a port (21 for standard FTP, 22 for SFTP).
- Your website files: The HTML, CSS, images, and scripts that make up your site, organized in a local folder.
If you can't find your credentials in the welcome email, look for them under FTP Accounts inside cPanel.
Step by Step: Connect to Your Hosting with FileZilla
1. Open the Site Manager
In FileZilla, go to File → Site Manager (or press Ctrl+S). Click New Site and give it a descriptive name, such as "My Hosting".
2. Enter Your Connection Details
Fill in the fields with your credentials:
| Field | What to Enter |
|---|---|
| Protocol | FTP or SFTP (use SFTP if your hosting supports it — it's encrypted) |
| Host | Your domain or server IP (e.g., ftp.yourdomain.com) |
| Port | 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP |
| Logon Type | Normal |
| User | Your FTP username |
| Password | Your FTP password (different from your cPanel password) |
Click Connect. If the credentials are correct, the bottom panel will show your server's root directory.
3. Navigate to the Right Server Folder
In the right panel (remote server), find the public_html folder. This is where all publicly accessible files for your site must live. Files placed outside public_html are not reachable from a browser.
4. Upload Your Files
In the left panel (your computer), navigate to the folder containing your site files. Select everything (Ctrl+A), right-click, and choose Upload. FileZilla queues the files and transfers them one by one.
If the server already has files and you only want to update a few, select only the changed ones to avoid overwriting everything.
Verifying Your Site Is Live
Once the transfer is complete, open your browser and type your domain. If you see your page, you're done! If you get a 403 error or a blank page, check these points:
- Is the main file named exactly
index.htmlorindex.php(no capitals)? - Did you upload the files directly inside
public_htmland not into a subfolder? - Are file permissions correct? Files should be
644and folders755. You can change them in FileZilla by right-clicking → File Permissions.
FTP Security Tips
Standard FTP transmits your username and password in plain text. Whenever your host supports it, use SFTP (port 22) or FTPS (FTP over TLS) to encrypt the connection. Most modern hosting providers offer both at no extra cost.
Avoid saving your password in FileZilla on shared computers. If you need to give FTP access to a third party (a designer or developer), create a secondary FTP account restricted to a specific subfolder via cPanel → FTP Accounts.
Want to explore more hosting concepts? Browse our complete hosting glossary for plain-English explanations.
Key Takeaways
- FTP (or better yet, SFTP) is the standard method for transferring files to your hosting server.
- FileZilla is free and sufficient for most users; configure it with host, username, password, and port.
- All website files belong inside
public_html. - Use SFTP or FTPS instead of plain FTP to protect your credentials.
- If the site doesn't load, check the main filename and file permissions first.
Ready to publish but don't have hosting yet? Visit elenlace.com to find hosting plans with FTP, SFTP, and cPanel support so you can go live in minutes.
FAQ
What is the difference between FTP and SFTP?
FTP sends data without encryption, exposing your username and password. SFTP uses SSH to encrypt the entire session. Use SFTP whenever possible for better security.
Where do I find my FTP credentials?
Your provider includes them in the welcome email when your account is activated. You can also find or create new ones under cPanel → FTP Accounts.
Can I upload an entire folder with FileZilla?
Yes. Drag the folder from the left panel to the right, or select it and choose "Upload." FileZilla will upload the full folder structure and all files inside automatically.
Why doesn't my site appear after uploading files?
The most common causes are: the main file isn't named index.html or index.php, files were uploaded outside public_html, or the domain is still propagating (can take up to 48 hours for a new domain).
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