What is FTP: A Beginner's Guide to FTP for WordPress
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 6:22 am
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What is FTP: A Beginner's Guide to FTP for WordPress Users
You can do a lot of things in your WordPress dashboard, but you can’t do everything . Sometimes, you might need to make a change directly to one of your site’s files. It could be to tighten security or add some custom code. A little research will tell you that File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the way to go, but what is FTP ?
In short, FTP allows you to connect directly to the files that make up your WordPress site. You can then edit, add, and delete information and code directly, without having to visit the dashboard. FTP software is plentiful and also simplifies some of your most common tasks.
This guide will answer the question: what is FTP? Then, we will netherlands phone number data you how to access your WordPress files using the FileZilla FTP client .
Let's get started!
Table of Contents view
FTP what is it and why is it important?
So what is FTP ? File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a way of transmitting information between an FTP server and a client. Your website files are stored on your web hosting servers, and you can use an FTP connection to access those files from your computer. Any changes you make will be automatically implemented on the server itself.
There are several reasons why you might need to access your site this way. You can use it for example to:
Install plugins and themes directly if you need them.
Manually deactivate plugins and themes if you get locked out of your WordPress dashboard.
Upload media and FTP data files in bulk, rather than one at a time.
Make changes to core WordPress files such as .htaccess , to implement customizations and additional security measures.
Diagnose and fix common errors on your site, such as compatibility issues, internal server errors, and so on.
Often, when you search for a tutorial on how to do something in WordPress or look for advice on how to fix a specific problem, you’ll be directed to use an FTP client . So even if you don’t need one now, learning how to use it means you’ll be prepared when you run into an FTP -related problem .
How to choose an FTP client
Of course, the first step will be to download the FTP client that you would like to use. An FTP client is simply a piece of software that allows you to access your website files on the FTP server that you are using. There are some popular FTP clients that you should consider, for example FileZilla , Cyberduck, and WinSCP are some of the most popular and widely used. You can choose any of these or other FTP clients as you like .
For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using FileZilla to guide you through the steps of file transfer protocol. The concept is the same for each of these clients and with minor differences this tutorial will apply to all FTP clients .
FileZilla FTP Client Presentation
If you’re just starting out, we suggest checking out FileZilla, a free, easy-to-use tool that’s great for beginners. It’s also recommended by WordPress itself , especially because it’s open source. The developers also provide helpful documentation to help you get started.
How to Use FTP to Access Your WordPress Site (In Four Steps)
Now that you know the answer to the question: what is FTP it's time to learn how to access your website. For this tutorial we will be using FileZilla, but the steps will be similar regardless of the tool you choose.
Step 1: Back up your site
Before you begin, it is important to understand the risks involved in using it. With this software, you will be making permanent changes directly to your site's files, which means that if you are not careful, you can make irreversible mistakes. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you have a recent backup, so that you can restore your website if something goes wrong.
Step 2: Install FileZilla FTP Client
Once you have a backup of your site, install FileZilla by visiting the website and clicking the button to download the client:
The FileZilla FTP client download button.
Find and download the correct version for your computer, then proceed with the installation. After that, you can simply launch the client - no special configuration is required.
Step 3: Connect to your host via FTP
When you open FileZilla, you should see a screen similar to this:
What is FTP? A Look at the FTP Interface
There should be four blank fields at the top: Host , Username , Password , and Port . The last field will automatically fill in. The first three, however, are your unique FTP credentials :
Empty fields for ftp credentials.
To access your site via FTP , you will need your web host's ftp address, as well as your personal username and password.
Your FTP account information is available through your hosting provider. Generally, you will need to log into your hosting control panel and find your credentials in your personal account information. Most hosts will have documentation that will tell you exactly where to look. Otherwise, your best bet is to contact your provider directly.
Once you have your credentials, simply enter them into FileZilla and click the Quick Connect button . Give it a few minutes to work. You should see a message telling you that the connection has been established:
What is FTP: A Beginner's Guide to FTP for WordPress Users
You can do a lot of things in your WordPress dashboard, but you can’t do everything . Sometimes, you might need to make a change directly to one of your site’s files. It could be to tighten security or add some custom code. A little research will tell you that File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the way to go, but what is FTP ?
In short, FTP allows you to connect directly to the files that make up your WordPress site. You can then edit, add, and delete information and code directly, without having to visit the dashboard. FTP software is plentiful and also simplifies some of your most common tasks.
This guide will answer the question: what is FTP? Then, we will netherlands phone number data you how to access your WordPress files using the FileZilla FTP client .
Let's get started!
Table of Contents view
FTP what is it and why is it important?
So what is FTP ? File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a way of transmitting information between an FTP server and a client. Your website files are stored on your web hosting servers, and you can use an FTP connection to access those files from your computer. Any changes you make will be automatically implemented on the server itself.
There are several reasons why you might need to access your site this way. You can use it for example to:
Install plugins and themes directly if you need them.
Manually deactivate plugins and themes if you get locked out of your WordPress dashboard.
Upload media and FTP data files in bulk, rather than one at a time.
Make changes to core WordPress files such as .htaccess , to implement customizations and additional security measures.
Diagnose and fix common errors on your site, such as compatibility issues, internal server errors, and so on.
Often, when you search for a tutorial on how to do something in WordPress or look for advice on how to fix a specific problem, you’ll be directed to use an FTP client . So even if you don’t need one now, learning how to use it means you’ll be prepared when you run into an FTP -related problem .
How to choose an FTP client
Of course, the first step will be to download the FTP client that you would like to use. An FTP client is simply a piece of software that allows you to access your website files on the FTP server that you are using. There are some popular FTP clients that you should consider, for example FileZilla , Cyberduck, and WinSCP are some of the most popular and widely used. You can choose any of these or other FTP clients as you like .
For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using FileZilla to guide you through the steps of file transfer protocol. The concept is the same for each of these clients and with minor differences this tutorial will apply to all FTP clients .
FileZilla FTP Client Presentation
If you’re just starting out, we suggest checking out FileZilla, a free, easy-to-use tool that’s great for beginners. It’s also recommended by WordPress itself , especially because it’s open source. The developers also provide helpful documentation to help you get started.
How to Use FTP to Access Your WordPress Site (In Four Steps)
Now that you know the answer to the question: what is FTP it's time to learn how to access your website. For this tutorial we will be using FileZilla, but the steps will be similar regardless of the tool you choose.
Step 1: Back up your site
Before you begin, it is important to understand the risks involved in using it. With this software, you will be making permanent changes directly to your site's files, which means that if you are not careful, you can make irreversible mistakes. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you have a recent backup, so that you can restore your website if something goes wrong.
Step 2: Install FileZilla FTP Client
Once you have a backup of your site, install FileZilla by visiting the website and clicking the button to download the client:
The FileZilla FTP client download button.
Find and download the correct version for your computer, then proceed with the installation. After that, you can simply launch the client - no special configuration is required.
Step 3: Connect to your host via FTP
When you open FileZilla, you should see a screen similar to this:
What is FTP? A Look at the FTP Interface
There should be four blank fields at the top: Host , Username , Password , and Port . The last field will automatically fill in. The first three, however, are your unique FTP credentials :
Empty fields for ftp credentials.
To access your site via FTP , you will need your web host's ftp address, as well as your personal username and password.
Your FTP account information is available through your hosting provider. Generally, you will need to log into your hosting control panel and find your credentials in your personal account information. Most hosts will have documentation that will tell you exactly where to look. Otherwise, your best bet is to contact your provider directly.
Once you have your credentials, simply enter them into FileZilla and click the Quick Connect button . Give it a few minutes to work. You should see a message telling you that the connection has been established: