How to Create and Manage FTP Accounts in cPanel Print

FTP accounts let you, or a developer or designer you work with, upload and manage files with an FTP program such as FileZilla. You can create an extra FTP account that's locked to one folder, so you can give someone access without handing over your cPanel password. All of this is done in cPanel under Files › FTP Accounts.

Create an FTP account

1. Log in to cPanel and go to Files › FTP Accounts.
2. Under Add FTP Account, enter a Log In name, for example designer, and choose the Domain. The full username becomes designer@example.co.uk.
3. Enter a strong Password, or use Password Generator.
4. Set the Directory. The account can only see this folder and everything inside it. Use public_html for access to your main website, or a subfolder such as public_html/shop to limit it further. Check this field carefully, because cPanel pre-fills it with a new folder named after the user.
5. Set a Quota in MB, or choose Unlimited. The account still counts towards your plan's disk space.
6. Click Create FTP Account.

Change a password or quota

1. In Files › FTP Accounts, find the account under FTP Accounts.
2. Click Change Password or Change Quota, enter the new value and save.

Your main cPanel account also works as an FTP login with access to your whole home directory. To change its password, change your cPanel password.

Delete an FTP account

1. Click Delete next to the account.
2. Confirm with Delete.

Be careful: cPanel also offers to delete the user's home directory. Choose that only if you really want to erase every file in the account's folder. If that folder is public_html, it will delete your website.

Connecting securely

• FTPS (FTP over explicit TLS) on port 21 is what we recommend. Plain FTP sends your password unencrypted. In your FTP program, choose Require explicit FTP over TLS. See connecting with FileZilla.
• SFTP (port 22) uses your main cPanel username and password rather than extra FTP accounts, and only works if SSH access is enabled on your plan. Contact support if you're not sure.
• The server, port and username for each account are shown under Configure FTP Client on the FTP Accounts page.

Repeated failed logins can get your IP address blocked by our firewall. If you suddenly can't connect, see getting your IP unblocked.