Upload website files with File Manager, FTP or SFTP
Put your site's files on web hosting: use the panel's File Manager, create an FTP account, connect FileZilla with FTP over TLS or SFTP, pick the right folder.
- Beginner
- 15 min read
- Updated
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Your website's files must sit in the right folder of your hosting account. You can upload them in the browser with the control panel's File Manager, or with an FTP client such as FileZilla over an encrypted connection. This guide covers both, for cPanel and Plesk.
Before you start
- Your control panel login; see log in to your control panel.
- The server's hostname and your account details from the welcome email.
- For FTP: an FTP client, for example FileZilla from its official website.
Step 1: Find the right folder
| Panel | Main domain | Other domains |
|---|---|---|
| cPanel | public_html | The folder shown for the domain in Domains |
| Plesk | httpdocs | The document root shown in the domain's Hosting Settings |
Files outside these folders are not served on the web, which is the right place for configuration files with passwords.
Step 2: Upload with the File Manager (simplest)
cPanel
- Open File Manager and go to
public_html. - Select Upload and choose your files, or upload one ZIP archive.
- For a ZIP, select it in the list and choose Extract.
Plesk
- Open Files (File Manager) and go to
httpdocs. - Use the upload button to add files or one ZIP archive.
- For a ZIP, open the archive's menu and choose to extract the files.
Verify: open your domain in the browser; your site, or at least its index page, loads.
Step 3: Create an FTP account (optional)
You can log in to FTP with the account's main user, or create extra FTP users that see only one folder:
- cPanel: FTP Accounts › enter Log In, Domain, Password and the Directory the user may access, then Create FTP Account.
- Plesk: FTP Access for the domain › add an FTP account with a name, password and home directory.
Step 4: Connect with FileZilla over an encrypted connection
In FileZilla, open File › Site Manager, add a new site and enter:
| Field | FTPS (FTP over TLS) | SFTP |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | FTP | SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol |
| Host | The server hostname from the welcome email | The server hostname |
| Port | 21 | The SSH port of your account |
| Encryption | Require explicit FTP over TLS | (always encrypted) |
| Logon type | Normal, with your FTP user and password | Normal, with your account user and password, or a key |
Connect. On the first FTPS connection FileZilla shows the server's certificate: check that the name matches the server hostname and accept it.
Verify: the right pane shows the folders of your account; drag files from the left pane into public_html or httpdocs.
Step 5: Set permissions
Most sites need folders set to 755 and files to 644. Both File Managers and FileZilla (File permissions in the right-click menu) can change them. Never use 777; it lets other processes write to your files and many servers refuse to run scripts with it.
Troubleshooting
530 Login authentication failed. The user name or password is wrong. cPanel FTP users log in with the full name including the domain, for example upload@example.com.
The connection hangs at MLSD or listing the directory fails. A firewall on your side blocks FTP's data connection. Make sure FileZilla uses passive mode (the default), or use SFTP if your account has SSH.
Connection refused on SFTP. SSH is not enabled for your account, or you used the wrong port. Use FTPS, or ask us about SSH access.
The certificate name does not match. You connected to your domain instead of the server hostname. Use the hostname from the welcome email.
The site still shows the old files or a default page. You uploaded into the wrong folder; see Step 1. For 403 or 500 errors after an upload, see hosting 500 and 403 errors.
Next steps
- Create a database for your site: databases and phpMyAdmin.
- Moving from another host: move a website without downtime.
Frequently asked questions
Which folder do my website files go in?
In the document root of the domain: public_html for the main domain in cPanel, httpdocs in Plesk. Additional domains have their own folders, shown in the panel's domain settings.
FTP, FTPS or SFTP: which should I use?
Never plain FTP over the internet, because it sends the password unencrypted. Use FTP with explicit TLS (FTPS) on port 21, or SFTP on the SSH port when your account has SSH access.
Why do I see a certificate warning in FileZilla?
The FTP server presents the hosting server's certificate. Check that the name in the certificate matches the server hostname from your welcome email, then accept it. With cPanel, connect to the server's hostname, not your domain, for TLS to match.
Can I upload a ZIP and unpack it on the server?
Yes. Both cPanel's and Plesk's File Manager can extract archives, which is much faster than uploading thousands of small files.