How to manage FTP accounts in cPanel

This article describes how to add, modify, and delete FTP accounts for your web site.

About the File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol that is used to transfer files between computers. To download or upload files, a user uses an FTP client to connect to an FTP server.

Every major operating system has a large selection of FTP clients. While the majority of web browsers come with built-in FTP functionality, there are standalone FTP applications like FileZilla. Generally speaking, the simplest and best option is to use a dedicated FTP client if you need to upload or download a lot of files. Please refer to this article for further details on using an FTP client with your hosting account.

Using cPanel, you can set up FTP accounts so that specific external users can access a restricted part of your web site.

By definition, FTP permits outside users to make changes to files on your website (but only within the directory or directories that you have permission to access). File uploading, downloading, and deletion by external users compromises the security of your account. When setting up a user’s FTP account, please remember this.

Creating an FTP account

When you create an FTP account, cPanel creates a directory on your web site that allows external users (who know the username and password) to upload and download files to and from that location.

All users with the correct username and password will be able to add, edit, and delete files from the directory that you specify for the FTP account, as well as any subdirectories beneath it.

To create an FTP account on your web site, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the FTP Accounts tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click FTP Accounts:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click FTP Accounts:
     
3. Under Add FTP Account, in the Log in text box, type the username for the FTP account.
   FTP account usernames are in the format user@example.com, where user represents the value you type in the Login text box, and example.com represents your domain name.
4. In the Password text box, type the account password.
5. In the Password (Again) text box, retype the account password.
   You can click Password Generator and cPanel generates a random, strong password for you.
6. In the Directory text box, type the directory to which the FTP account will have access. By default, this directory is located under your public_html directory, and its name is the FTP account username.
   If you specify the top level of the web site by typing a slash (/), then all users who enter a valid username and password will be able to add, edit, and delete all files on your web site. We strongly advise you to limit an FTP account to a subdirectory on your web site.
7. Specify the quota for the FTP account. By default, the quota is unlimited. To set a quota, type the number, in megabytes, for the maximum directory size.
8. Click Create FTP Account. cPanel creates the account.

Changing the password for an FTP account

It is a good security practice to regularly change FTP account passwords. You should always change an FTP account password if you suspect an unauthorized user has gained access to the account.

To change the password for an FTP account, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the FTP Accounts tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click FTP Accounts:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click FTP Accounts:
     
3. Under FTP Accounts, locate the account password that you want to change, and then click Change Password.
4. In the Password text box, type the new password.
5. In the Password (Again) text box, retype the new password.
   You can click Password Generator and cPanel generates a random, strong password for you.
6. Click Change Password. cPanel changes the account password.

Deleting an FTP account

To delete an FTP account, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open the FTP Accounts tool:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click FTP Accounts:
   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click FTP Accounts:
     
3. Under FTP Accounts, locate the account that you want to delete, and then click Delete.
4. You can delete just the FTP account, or you can delete the FTP account and all of its associated files:
   • To delete just the FTP account, click Delete.
   • To delete the FTP account and all of the files in the account’s directory, select the Delete the User’s Home Directory check box, and then click Delete.

More Information

For more information about FTP, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Transfer_Protocol.