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Transferring Files with FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) allows you to upload, download, and manage your website files using a dedicated application on your computer — known as an FTP client — rather than relying solely on the built-in file manager in your hosting panel. Popular FTP clients like FileZilla, Cyberduck, and WinSCP give you a familiar drag-and-drop experience for moving files between your computer and your hosting account, which is especially useful for large uploads or managing many files at once. This guide walks you through creating FTP accounts, connecting with an FTP client, and managing your accounts — all from the FREAKHOSTING Web Hosting Control Panel.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

5 Minutes

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What is FTP and Why Use It?

FTP is a standard method for transferring files between your local computer and your web server. While the Web Hosting Control Panel includes a built-in file manager for quick edits, FTP is the preferred method when you need to:
  • Upload an entire website — Transfer all your HTML, CSS, image, and script files in one batch.
  • Move large files — FTP handles large file transfers more reliably than a browser-based file manager.
  • Work offline — Prepare your files locally and upload them when ready.
  • Use professional tools — FTP clients offer advanced features like folder synchronization, transfer queues, and resume support for interrupted uploads.
Each FTP account you create can be restricted to a specific folder on your hosting account. This means you can give a developer or designer access to only the files they need — without exposing your entire hosting directory.

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SFTP vs FTP: Which Should You Use?

Before setting up your connection, it is worth understanding the difference between FTP and SFTP — and why one is significantly better than the other.

FTP (Port 21)

Standard FTP sends your username, password, and file data in plain text. Anyone on the same network could theoretically intercept your credentials. It works, but it is the equivalent of mailing a postcard — anyone handling it can read it.

SFTP (Port 22)

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) encrypts everything — your login credentials, commands, and file data. It is the equivalent of mailing a sealed, locked package. Same functionality, vastly better security.
Always use SFTP when available. There is no downside — it is just as easy to set up, works with all major FTP clients, and protects your credentials from being intercepted. The only difference is changing the port from 21 to 22 and selecting SFTP as the protocol.

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Accessing FTP Settings

You can reach the FTP management area in two ways from the Web Hosting Control Panel.
  1. Log in to the FREAKHOSTING Web Hosting Control Panel.
  2. Select the website you want to manage.
  3. In the top navigation, look for the Advanced dropdown menu.
  4. Click FTP to open the FTP accounts page.
  1. Log in to the FREAKHOSTING Web Hosting Control Panel.
  2. Select the website you want to manage.
  3. On the main dashboard, locate the FTP shortcut button.
  4. Click it to jump directly to the FTP management page.
If you have not created any FTP accounts yet, you will see an empty state with an FTP icon and the message “No FTP accounts” along with the description: “Add an FTP account to manage your files through an external FTP client such as FileZilla.”

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Creating an FTP Account

Once you are on the FTP management page, follow these steps to set up a new account.
1

Click Add Account

On the FTP accounts page, click the Add account button to open the new account form.
2

Enter a Username

Type a username for the FTP account. Choose something descriptive — for example, developer or designer — so you can easily identify the account later. The full FTP username will typically include your domain (e.g., developer@yourdomain.com).
3

Set a Password

Enter a strong password for the account. Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This password will be used when connecting from an FTP client.
4

Choose a Directory Path

Specify the directory path that this FTP account should have access to. Common choices include:
  • / — Full access to the entire website directory.
  • /public_html — Access only to the public web root.
  • /public_html/uploads — Restricted access to a specific subfolder.
Leaving the path as / grants access to all files under that website.
5

Save the Account

Click Save or Add to create the FTP account. It will appear in your list of FTP accounts and is ready to use immediately.

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Real-World Example: Setting Up FTP for Your Web Developer

Let’s say you hired a freelance developer named Alex to update your WordPress theme. You want Alex to have FTP access, but only to the themes folder — not your entire site. Here is exactly how to set that up.

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Step 1: Create a Restricted FTP Account

In the FTP management page, click Add account and fill in the fields: Click Save. Alex now has an FTP account that can only see and modify files inside the themes folder. They cannot access your database configurations, other plugins, uploads, or anything else outside that directory.

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Step 2: Send Alex the Connection Details

Share the following information with your developer (preferably through a secure channel — not plain email):
Use a password manager’s secure sharing feature to send FTP credentials. If you must use email, consider sending the username and password in separate messages, or better yet, tell Alex the password over a quick phone call.

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Step 3: When the Project is Done

Once Alex finishes the work, go back to the FTP management page and delete the account. This immediately revokes access. No loose credentials floating around, no risk of unauthorized changes later.

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Connecting via FileZilla (Step by Step)

FileZilla is the most popular free FTP client. Here is exactly how to connect it to your FREAKHOSTING account.
1

Download and Install FileZilla

If you do not already have FileZilla, download it for free from filezilla-project.org. Install it on your computer following the on-screen instructions.
2

Open the Site Manager

Launch FileZilla and go to File then Site Manager (or press Ctrl+S on Windows / Cmd+S on macOS).
3

Create a New Site Entry

Click New Site and give it a name (e.g., “FREAKHOSTING - My Website”).
4

Enter Connection Details

Fill in the fields exactly like this:
If you are using standard FTP instead of SFTP, set the Protocol to FTP - File Transfer Protocol and change the Port to 21. But seriously — use SFTP. There is no good reason not to.
5

Connect to Your Server

Click Connect. FileZilla will establish a connection, and you will see your server files on the right-hand side and your local files on the left-hand side. You can now drag and drop files between the two.If this is your first time connecting via SFTP, FileZilla may show a dialog asking you to trust the server’s host key. This is normal — click OK or Always trust this host to proceed.
If your connection fails, double-check your hostname, username, and password. Also make sure your FTP port (21 or 22) is not being blocked by a local firewall or antivirus program. Switching from FTP to SFTP (or vice versa) can also resolve connection issues.

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Managing FTP Accounts

The FTP management page in the control panel lets you view and manage all of your existing FTP accounts.
All FTP accounts are listed on the FTP management page. Each entry shows the username, the directory path it has access to, and available actions. Use this list to keep track of who has access to your hosting files.
To change the password or directory path of an existing account, click the Edit button (or the pencil/settings icon) next to the account. Update the desired fields and click Save to apply your changes.
To remove an FTP account you no longer need, click the Delete button (or the trash icon) next to the account. Confirm the deletion when prompted. The account will be removed immediately, and the associated credentials will no longer work.
Deleting an FTP account does not delete the files on your server. It only removes the login credentials. However, anyone who was using that account will lose access immediately — so make sure to inform any collaborators before removing their account.

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Security Best Practices

Keeping your FTP accounts secure is essential to protecting your website and data.
1

Always Use SFTP

SFTP encrypts your entire connection — login credentials, commands, and file data. In FileZilla, select SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol and use port 22. Standard FTP on port 21 sends everything in plain text, including your password.
2

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Every FTP account should have a strong password that is not reused from other services. A good password includes at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
3

Restrict Directory Access

Only give FTP accounts access to the folders they actually need. A developer working on your theme? Restrict them to /public_html/wp-content/themes. A content editor uploading images? Restrict them to /public_html/uploads. Never grant root-level access unless absolutely necessary.
4

Remove Accounts When Projects End

Finished working with a freelancer? Delete their FTP account immediately. The fewer active credentials that exist, the smaller your attack surface. Make it a habit to audit your FTP accounts monthly.
5

Never Share Credentials Insecurely

Do not send FTP passwords over unencrypted email or chat. Use a password manager’s sharing feature, send credentials through separate channels, or communicate the password verbally.

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Common Use Cases

After building your website locally, use FTP to upload all of your files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images) to the /public_html directory on your hosting account. This is the fastest way to deploy a complete site.
Need to upload hundreds of images or a large media library? FTP clients handle bulk transfers far more efficiently than a browser-based file manager, with support for transfer queues and automatic retries.
Create a separate FTP account for your web developer with access limited to only the folder they need — like /public_html/wp-content/themes for theme work or /public_html/wp-content/plugins for plugin development. They can upload and modify files in that folder without seeing anything else on your hosting account.
Use FTP to download a copy of your website files to your local computer as a manual backup. This is a great way to keep an offline copy of your site alongside any automated backups.
When you need to replace images, update CSS files, or swap out pages, FTP makes it easy to overwrite specific files without touching the rest of your site.
Create an FTP account restricted to /public_html/uploads or /public_html/media. Your content person can upload images and documents without being able to accidentally modify your theme files, configuration, or anything else.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The built-in file manager in the Web Hosting Control Panel works through your browser and is great for quick edits to individual files. FTP is better for bulk operations — uploading entire folders, syncing large numbers of files, or working with files that are too large for browser-based upload. Think of the file manager as a quick notepad and FTP as a full toolkit.
Yes. You can create as many FTP accounts as you need. This is useful when different people need access to different folders — one account for your developer, another for your designer, another for your content team.
No. Deleting an FTP account only removes the login credentials. Your files remain exactly where they are on the server. The person who was using that account simply will not be able to connect anymore.
The most common issues are: incorrect hostname (try your domain name or server IP), wrong port (21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP), mistyped username (remember it usually includes your domain, like user@yourdomain.com), or a firewall blocking the connection. Try switching between FTP and SFTP to see if one works when the other does not.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: March 2026 | Web Hosting Panel: FTP Management