FTP is a “File Transfer Protocol” which allows you to access a web server remotely from your local computer. All files of your site are stored in a web server offered by your hosting company. The unlimited capabilities of WordPress.org site depends on how easily you can able to access those files stored in a server. Whether it is adding simple code in your “wp-config.php” or downloading entire media files from your server, FTP allows you to do it with ease. Once setup, you can access and modify files remotely from your local computer without the need of logging into your hosting account.
Setup FTP Account in cPanel
Follow the below steps to setup your FTP account in cPanel hosting. Remember that the setup may be little different depending up on the customizations on your hosting company.
- Login to your hosting account and navigate to “FTP” section available under “Hosting” tab.
- Enter the required details under “Add FTP Account” and click on “Create FTP Account” button.
- Login – This is your user name, by default it will be concatenated with your domain name. The final format of user name will be something like [email protected].
- Password – Enter a password.
- Password (Again) – Enter password again.
- Strength – Based on the complexity of your password, the strength signal will increase. Ensure to have a very strong password and avoid using the same password of your hosting account here.
- Password Generator – click on the password generator button so that a complex password is automatically generated for you.
- Directory – This particular FTP account user will only have an authorization to access files available in the directory entered here. For example, if you have installed WordPress on a subdirectory called “Blog”, here you can enter as “blog”. Normally WordPress is installed under the directory “public_html” hence enter “public_html” if you have not changed anything.
- Quota – It is used to provide a limited file upload usage quota for a particular FTP account user when you want to have more number of users. Generally, choose “unlimited” option to provide a full quota access.
After filling the details, click on the “Create FTP Account” button and you will see the newly created FTP account under “FTP Accounts” section by scrolling down the page. Click on the “Configure FTP Client” link to see your FTP user name, server and port details.
- Now that your FTP account is setup in cPanel and ready for use.
You will also see “Special FTP Accounts” available in your account by default. These special FTP accounts are auto generated for the purpose of logging and user access.
In order to use FTP you need to install a software on your local PC or Mac. There are many FTP software available for free; FileZilla, Cyberduck and CoreFTP are some examples.
