Upload Files to WordPress Using FTP

What is FTP?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a way to move files between your computer and your hosting account. Think of it as a delivery truck that carries boxes to your website's storage room. You use a small program called an FTP client. FileZilla is a free one.

FTP is handy when the dashboard upload fails, for example with very big files.

What you need

• An FTP client, installed on your computer.
• Your FTP host name, user name and password. Look in your welcome email, or ask Hostvento support.
• The file or folder you want to upload, unzipped.

Steps

1. Open your FTP client.
2. Type your host name, user name and password in the top boxes.
3. Leave the port empty, or use the number given in your welcome email.
4. Click Quickconnect.
5. If a window asks about a certificate, read it and click OK.
6. Look at the right side. It shows your hosting account. The left side shows your computer.

   

   

   

7. On the right, open public_html. If WordPress is in a sub-folder, open that one.
8. Open wp-content.

   

9. Choose the right place for your file, using the table below.
10. On the left, find the file or folder on your computer.

    

    

11. Drag it to the right side. Or right-click it and choose Upload.
12. Wait until the queue at the bottom is empty.

Where do files go?

Upload the unzipped folder, not the ZIP file.

Turn it on in WordPress

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. For a plugin, click Plugins, then Installed Plugins, then Activate.

   

3. For a theme, click Appearance, then Themes, then Activate.

Pictures put in the uploads folder by FTP do not show in the Media library by themselves. Add them there with a media import plugin.

Quick recap

• FTP moves files between your computer and your hosting.

  

• Connect with host, user name and password.
• Upload themes to themes and plugins to plugins.
• Activate them in the dashboard.
• Back up first.