This guide covers the FTP upload workflow using FileZilla — the most widely used free FTP client. You'll find your credentials, connect to your hosting account, and upload files via SFTP (the encrypted, recommended method). Use FTP/SFTP when the browser-based file manager isn't practical: large sites, bulk transfers, or automated deployments.
What you'll need
- FTP credentials — hostname, username, and password from your hosting account (see below)
- FileZilla — download the free client from filezilla-project.org
- Access to your control panel — to look up or create FTP account details
Finding your FTP credentials
Your FTP hostname is your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com) or the server's IP address. Your FTP username and password are the same as your main hosting control panel login unless you have created a separate FTP account.
To check or create FTP accounts, log in to your control panel and navigate to Files → FTP Accounts. Your main account is listed at the top. You can create additional FTP accounts with restricted access to specific folders — useful when giving a developer access to a single subdirectory.
Connecting with FileZilla
Launch FileZilla and go to File → Site Manager (or press Ctrl+S). Click New Site and give it a name you'll recognise (e.g., your domain name).
Fill in the following fields:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Protocol | SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol |
| Host | yourdomain.com |
| Port | 22 [VERIFY — confirm SFTP port with HOSTDOG support if connection fails] |
| Logon Type | Normal |
| User | Your FTP/hosting username |
| Password | Your FTP/hosting password |
21. SFTP is strongly recommended — see FTP vs SFTP below.
Click Connect. On your first connection, FileZilla may show a dialog asking you to verify the server's host key — click OK to accept and save it. Once connected, the right-hand panel in FileZilla shows your remote server's file system and the left-hand panel shows your local computer.
Uploading your files
In the right-hand (remote) panel, navigate to the public_html folder — this is the web root where your site's files must live to be publicly accessible. In the left-hand (local) panel, browse to the files on your computer that you want to upload.
Drag files or folders from the left panel and drop them into the right panel to start the upload. FileZilla shows progress in the transfer queue at the bottom of the screen. You can queue multiple folders at once and FileZilla will transfer them in sequence.
In the Remote site panel (right), navigate to /public_html. This is your website's document root. Files placed here are served to web visitors. If you are deploying a site into a subdomain or addon domain, navigate into the corresponding subdirectory instead.
Select the files or folders in the Local site panel (left), then drag and drop them into the Remote site panel (right). Watch the transfer queue at the bottom — a successful transfer shows the status File transfer successful. If any file fails, it appears in the Failed transfers tab.
FTP vs SFTP: which should I use?
Use SFTP. Plain FTP sends your username, password, and all file data in clear text — anyone on the same network can intercept it. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) encrypts the entire connection, including your credentials, using the same technology that protects SSH access. The connection setup is identical in FileZilla; the only difference is selecting SFTP as the protocol and using port 22 instead of 21. There is no reason to use plain FTP for new connections.
Troubleshooting
Check that you are using the correct hostname (your domain name or server IP). Verify the port — SFTP uses port 22, plain FTP uses port 21. If you are behind a corporate firewall, these ports may be blocked. Try switching to a different network (e.g., mobile hotspot) to test. If you still cannot connect, open a support ticket — HOSTDOG support can confirm the correct port for your account.
Double-check your credentials in the FTP Accounts section of your control panel. Your FTP username often includes the server hostname as a suffix (e.g., you@yourdomain.com) — copy it exactly as shown, including any suffix. If you have recently changed your hosting password, update it in FileZilla's Site Manager too. You can reset your FTP password from the control panel.
This usually affects plain FTP connections (not SFTP) when a router or NAT device interferes with the data channel. In FileZilla, go to Edit → Settings → FTP → Passive mode and try switching between Use the server's external IP address instead and the default setting. Switching to SFTP altogether eliminates passive mode issues entirely, since SFTP uses a single port for both control and data.