How to Set Up FTP Accounts in cPanel

Introduction

At Lanetti, we strive to make managing your website as simple as possible. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) accounts provide a secure way to upload, download, and manage your website files directly from your computer. By setting up FTP accounts in cPanel, you can create tailored access for team members, developers, or yourself to specific directories in your hosting environment. This guide will walk you through the process of creating and managing FTP accounts step by step.

How to Create an FTP Account

1. Log in to Your cPanel:

   • Open your browser and navigate to your cPanel login page (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/cpanel).
   • Enter your username and password, then click Log in.

2. Access the FTP Accounts Tool:

   • In the cPanel dashboard, locate the Files section.
   • Click on the FTP Accounts icon to open the configuration interface.

3. Fill in the FTP Account Details:

   • Login: Enter a unique name for the FTP account (e.g., developer or content_team). The full username will automatically include your domain name (e.g., developer@yourdomain.com).
   • Password: Create a strong password or use the Password Generator. Save this password securely.
   • Directory: Define the directory the account can access. For example:
     • Leave it as default to create a folder matching the username.
     • Specify a custom folder such as public_html for full website access or public_html/uploads for limited access.
   • Quota: Set a storage limit (e.g., 500MB) or choose Unlimited.

4. Create the FTP Account:

   • Click the Create FTP Account button to finalize.
   • A confirmation message will appear, and the account will be listed under Existing FTP Accounts.

How to Manage Existing FTP Accounts

1. View and Edit Accounts:

   • Scroll down to the FTP Accounts section in the same interface.
   • Here, you’ll see a list of all active FTP accounts.

2. Change Password:

   • Next to the account you want to modify, click Change Password.
   • Enter the new password and confirm it.

3. Change Quota:

   • Click Change Quota for the desired account.
   • Enter a new storage limit or select Unlimited, then save.

4. Delete an Account:

   • To remove an FTP account, click Delete.
   • You’ll be prompted to either:
     • Delete only the account.
     • Delete the account and its associated files.

How to Use Your FTP Account

Once your FTP account is set up, you can configure an FTP client such as FileZilla, Cyberduck, or WinSCP to connect to your hosting server:

1. Download and Install an FTP Client:

   • FileZilla is a popular free option available at filezilla-project.org.

2. Enter FTP Credentials:

   • Host: Use your domain name or server IP address.
   • Username: The FTP username you created (e.g., developer@yourdomain.com).
   • Password: Enter the password you set for the FTP account.
   • Port: Use 21 for standard FTP or 22 for SFTP (if supported).

3. Connect and Transfer Files:

   • Once connected, you can drag and drop files between your computer and the server.