How to Create an FTP Account

An FTP account gives you a username and password to connect to your hosting with an FTP client like FileZilla, so you can upload, download, and manage your website's files directly. You can create as many FTP accounts as you need, each with its own login and its own folder permissions.

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel and open the FTP Accounts tool.
2. Under Add FTP Account, enter a username (this becomes part of the login, e.g. user@yourdomain.com).
3. Set a password, or click Password Generator for a strong one and save it somewhere safe.
4. In the Directory field, choose the folder this account should be restricted to. Leave it as the default if you want the account limited to its own home folder, or set it to public_html if it needs access to your whole website.
5. Set a Quota (or leave it as Unlimited), then click Create FTP Account.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin and open FTP Management under the Account Manager or Advanced Features section.
2. Click Create FTP Account.
3. Choose the account type: a Domain FTP account for full access to a domain's files, or a Custom FTP account restricted to a specific folder.
4. Enter a username and password, confirm the folder path if prompted, and click Create.

Once the account exists, connect using your domain name or server hostname as the FTP host, the username and password you set, and port 21 (or port 22 if you're connecting over SFTP). Your control panel's FTP Accounts page shows the exact server address to use.

Avoid using your main cPanel or DirectAdmin login for everyday FTP work. Create a separate FTP account for each person or tool that needs file access, and restrict its directory to only what it actually needs.