Most FTP connection problems come down to one of a handful of causes: wrong credentials, the wrong host or port, a firewall blocking the connection, or an account that's been suspended or restricted to a folder you're trying to access from outside. Work through these in order before assuming something is broken on the server.
Check your credentials and host first
- Confirm the username exactly as shown in your control panel's FTP Accounts list. In cPanel it's usually the full user@yourdomain.com form, not just the short username.
- Re-enter the password rather than relying on a saved one in your FTP client, in case it was changed or saved incorrectly.
- Use your domain name or the server hostname shown in your control panel as the FTP host, not an IP address that may have changed.
- Try port 21 for standard FTP, or port 22 with SFTP selected as the protocol if your client supports it.
"Connection refused" or timeout
This usually points to a network or firewall issue rather than your account. Check the following:
- Your office or ISP network may block outbound FTP traffic on port 21. Try a different network, such as mobile data, to confirm.
- Switch your FTP client's connection mode between Active and Passive in its settings. Passive mode resolves most connection-refused errors caused by routers and firewalls.
- If you recently changed hosting or your site moved servers, the old server address may no longer be valid. Confirm the current host in your control panel.
"530 Login incorrect"
This means the server received your connection but rejected the username or password. Check for it in both cPanel and DirectAdmin the same way:
In cPanel
- Open FTP Accounts and confirm the account still exists and hasn't been deleted.
- If unsure of the password, click Change Password next to the account and set a new one.
In DirectAdmin
- Open FTP Management and confirm the account is listed.
- Click the account and choose to change its password if you're unsure it's correct.
If your hosting account itself was suspended, for example over an unpaid invoice, FTP access is disabled along with everything else until the account is reinstated. Check your ZIPROF account status if login continues to fail after a password reset.