How to Create an FTP Account in cPanel

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between your computer and a server. Creating an FTP account in cPanel allows you to upload, download, or manage files on your hosting server securely. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough for setting up an FTP account in cPanel.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have:

  1. Access to your cPanel account.

  2. A hosting plan that supports FTP accounts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create an FTP Account in cPanel

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to your cPanel URL, such as https://yourdomain.com/cpanel or the URL provided by your hosting provider.

  2. Enter your cPanel username and password, then click Log In.

Step 2: Navigate to the FTP Accounts Section

  1. Once logged in, scroll down to the Files section.

  2. Click on FTP Accounts to access the FTP management page.

Step 3: Add a New FTP Account

  1. On the FTP Accounts page, locate the form to create a new FTP account.

  2. Fill in the required fields:

    • Log In: Enter a username for the FTP account. For example, if your domain is example.com and you enter user1, the FTP username will be user1@example.com.

    • Domain: If you host multiple domains on your account, select the correct domain for this FTP account.

    • Password: Create a strong password or use the Password Generator to generate a secure password.

    • Directory: Specify the folder to which the FTP account will have access.

      • By default, cPanel will create a subfolder based on the username. You can modify this to limit or expand access. For example:

        • /public_html grants access to your website’s root directory.

        • /public_html/blog grants access only to the blog directory.

    • Quota: Set a storage limit for the FTP account (e.g., 500MB) or select Unlimited.

  3. Click Create FTP Account to save.

Step 4: Verify the FTP Account

  1. Once the account is created, it will appear in the FTP Accounts list at the bottom of the page.

  2. Note down the following details for accessing the account:

    • FTP Username: The username you created (e.g., user1@example.com).

    • FTP Server: Usually ftp.example.com or your domain name.

    • Port: 21 (default FTP port).

Step 5: Access Your FTP Account

You can access your FTP account using an FTP client, such as FileZilla, Cyberduck, or WinSCP. Here’s how:

Using FileZilla

  1. Download and install FileZilla from filezilla-project.org.

  2. Open FileZilla and enter the following details in the Quickconnect bar:

    • Host: ftp.example.com (or the IP address of your server).

    • Username: The FTP username you created.

    • Password: The password for the FTP account.

    • Port: 21.

  3. Click Quickconnect to connect to the server.

Step 6: Manage FTP Accounts in cPanel

Edit an FTP Account

  1. Navigate to the FTP Accounts section in cPanel.

  2. Locate the account you want to edit.

  3. Options include:

    • Change Password: Update the password for the account.

    • Change Quota: Adjust the storage limit for the account.

Delete an FTP Account

  1. Find the FTP account in the list.

  2. Click Delete and confirm.

    • You can choose to delete only the account or the associated files as well.

Security Tips

  1. Use Secure FTP (SFTP): If your hosting provider supports SFTP, use it for enhanced security. SFTP uses SSH to encrypt data during transfer.

  2. Strong Passwords: Always use a strong password for FTP accounts to prevent unauthorized access.

  3. Restrict Access: Assign FTP accounts to specific directories to limit access to sensitive areas of your server.

  4. Monitor Activity: Regularly check the FTP accounts and remove any that are no longer needed.

Troubleshooting Tips

  1. Connection Issues:

    • Ensure your domain is pointing to the correct server.

    • Verify the FTP server address, username, and password.

    • Check your hosting provider’s firewall settings.

  2. Insufficient Permissions:

    • Confirm that the FTP account has the necessary permissions for the directory it’s accessing.

  3. Quota Errors:

    • Increase the quota for the FTP account if you’re receiving storage limit warnings.

Benefits of Using FTP Accounts

  1. Efficient File Management: Quickly upload, download, and organize files on your server.

  2. Access Control: Assign specific directories to different FTP accounts for team members or clients.

  3. Automated Processes: Use FTP clients to automate tasks like backups or large file uploads.

By following this guide, you can create and manage FTP accounts in cPanel, enabling efficient and secure file transfers for your website or server.

The video below gives you more details.