Upload files to your website
There are two easy ways to upload and manage your website's files: File Manager in cPanel, which works in your browser, and an FTP program such as FileZilla, which is better for many files or large folders.
Your main website's files go in the public_html folder. Each additional domain or subdomain has its own folder, shown under Domains in cPanel.
File Manager
1. Log in to cPanel and go to Files > File Manager.
2. Open the folder you want, for example public_html.
3. Click Upload and choose your files. To upload a whole website at once, upload it as a .zip file, then right-click it and choose Extract.
File Manager can also edit, move, rename, compress and delete files, and change permissions.
FTP with FileZilla
FileZilla is a free FTP program for Windows, Mac and Linux, available from filezilla-project.org. Other FTP programs, such as WinSCP and Cyberduck, work the same way.
1. In FileZilla, go to File > Site Manager > New site.
2. Enter:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Protocol | FTP - File Transfer Protocol |
| Host | your domain name, for example example.com, or your server's hostname |
| Port | 21 |
| Encryption | Require explicit FTP over TLS |
| Logon type | Normal |
| User | your cPanel username, or an FTP account such as [email protected] |
| Password | the matching password |
3. Click Connect. If FileZilla asks you to trust the server's certificate, check that it's for your server, and click OK.
Your computer's files are on the left, and your hosting account is on the right. Drag files between them to upload or download.
Encryption matters: with Require explicit FTP over TLS, your password and files are sent securely. Don't use plain FTP.
FTP accounts
To give someone access to only one folder, for example a web designer, create a separate FTP account for them in cPanel under Files > FTP Accounts. Set its Directory to the folder they need. They log in with the full username shown, such as [email protected].
SFTP
If SSH is turned on for your account, you can also use SFTP (port 22) in FileZilla with an SSH key. See Connect to your server via SSH.
If you can't connect
- Login incorrect: check the username and password. FTP account usernames include the domain, for example [email protected].
- Connection timed out or the folder list doesn't load: make sure Encryption is set to Require explicit FTP over TLS, and try again from a different network. Your IP address may also have been blocked after several failed logins; see Imunify360 website protection.
If you still can't connect, please open a support ticket.