How To: Manage your website with FTP access

May 25, 2010

Tags: file transfer protocol, filezilla, ftp, website

Sometimes when updating your website, you’ll want more than just an admin console. You’ll want to upload, download, or change files and images which might not be possible with your admin console (or maybe just too cumbersome). Or if you do not have a WordPress website, then FTP may be the only way you can update your website.

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, allows you to access your website files as if they were located on your home or business computer. Here’s how you do it.

Step one is to download a FTP Client. My favorite is Filezilla which is made by the makers of FireFox. Its reliable and fast to get up and running.
After downloading, start up Filezilla.
Your hosting provider should give you 3 pieces of information used to access your FTP account: host name, username, and password. Enter these pieces of information at the top of the screen as show in the picture here. Click Quick Connect.
The right side of the screen represents the files on your website. The left side of the screen is your computer. You can now drag and drop files between your website and your computer.
A word of caution: When changing files on your website it is ALWAYS a good idea to back up your files by copying them somewhere on your computer. Each time you make a change, create a new folder on your computer and copy the website files BEFORE you change them.