[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":82},["ShallowReactive",2],{"post-what-is-ftp-the-file-transfer-hack-for-beginners-need":3,"categories":59},{"entry":4},{"id":5,"dateCreated":6,"sectionHandle":7,"title":8,"slug":9,"postContent":10,"date":11,"postSummary":12,"status":13,"author":14,"category":19,"headerImage":24,"seoMetaDescription":54,"seoMetaImage":55,"seoMetaTitle":8},"228688","2026-04-29T09:21:53+02:00","posts","What is FTP: The file transfer hack for beginners need","what-is-ftp-the-file-transfer-hack-for-beginners-need","\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">When building your first website, chances are that you might come across words like FTP, cPanel, and wonder what it means and why your developer keeps asking for your FTP details to login to upload your website. \u003C/p>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Here's a straightforward overview of what FTP is, minus the jargon. \u003C/p>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">By the end, you'll feel comfortable explaining FTP, how it works, or even using it yourself, making those casual mentions far less daunting.\u003C/p>\r\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>What FTP actually does\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. A simple way of saying: moving files from your computer to your web hosting (or the other way around). \u003Cbr>Think of it like this: Your web \u003Ca href=\"https://www.afrihost.com/shared-hosting\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>hosting package\u003C/strong>\u003C/a> is a storage unit. cPanel is the front desk, you can go in and grab a few things. \u003Cbr>FTP is the loading dock or your logistics team, where you can back up a truck and move hundreds of boxes at once.\u003C/p>\r\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>When should you use FTP instead of uploading manually on cPanel\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\r\n\u003Cul>\u003Cli>Uploading your entire website with hundreds of files, it is much simpler to zip the files and use FTP.\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Deleting a file from the server works reliably, even when cPanel times out.\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Downloading a backup lets you grab everything at once.\u003C/li>\u003C/ul>\r\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>What you need to get started\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Your FTP server address – Usually ftp.yourdomain.co.za or just your domain\u003Cbr>Your FTP username – Same as your cPanel username (usually)\u003Cbr>Your FTP password – Same as your cPanel password\u003Cbr>An FTP client – A free program on your computer **Windows/Mac**\u003C/p>\r\n\u003Cul>\u003C/ul>\r\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>The best FTP client apps to use (all free)\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\r\n\u003Cblockquote>FileZilla is the most popular, works everywhere\t\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr>Website Link\u003C/strong>: \u003Cstrong>www.filezilla-project.org\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>WinSCP\tWindows users who like drag-and-drop\t\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003C/strong>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>Website Link\u003C/strong>:\u003C/em> \u003Cstrong>www.winscp.net\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>Cyberduck\tMac users who like simple\t\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003C/strong>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>Website Link\u003C/strong>:\u003C/em> \u003Cstrong>www.\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>cyberduck.io\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>ForkLift\tPower Mac users (paid but good)\t\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003C/strong>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>Website Link\u003C/strong>:\u003C/em> \u003Cstrong>www\u003C/strong>.\u003Cstrong>binarynights.co\u003C/strong>\u003C/blockquote>\r\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>I'll use FileZilla for this guide, it's what most people commonly use.\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\r\n\u003Ch4 dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>How to Connect Using FileZilla\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\r\n\u003Col>\u003Cli>FileZilla is the go-to choice:\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Open FileZilla: Launch it on your computer.\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Enter Details: Use the Quickconnect bar:\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Host: ftp.yourdomain.co.za (or your domain)\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Username: cPanel username\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Password: cPanel password\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Port: \u003Cstrong>22\u003C/strong> for secure SFTP.\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Click Quickconnect: Local files appear left; server files (web hosting) right.\u003C/li>\u003C/ol>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">For more visuals and a detailed step-by-step, please see our help center on \u003Ca href=\"https://help.afrihost.com/entry/how-to-upload-files-using-filezilla\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>how to upload files using FileZilla\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>. \u003Cbr>Need a dedicated FTP account for your domain or developer? \u003Cbr>Check out \u003Ca href=\"https://help.afrihost.com/entry/how-to-create-an-ftp-account-in-cpanel\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>how to create an FTP account in cPanel.\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\r\n\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cstrong>Security Warning: Use SFTP if possible\u003Cbr>\u003C/strong>Regular FTP sends your password in plain text. On a coffee shop Wi-Fi, someone could intercept it.\u003C/blockquote>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Use SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) instead. It's encrypted.\u003C/p>\r\n\u003Cblockquote> The only difference: change the port from\u003Cstrong> 21\u003C/strong> to \u003Cstrong>22\u003C/strong>. FileZilla and most clients support it. \u003C/blockquote>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">To read up on \u003Ca href=\"https://help.afrihost.com/entry/how-to-create-an-ftp-account-in-cpanel\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>Filezilla\u003C/strong>\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://help.afrihost.com/entry/how-to-create-an-ftp-account-in-cpanel\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>FTP accounts\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>, you can read up more via our help center post.\u003C/p>\r\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Funny how FTP feels complex at first, yet it works like moving files between folders and servers. After your initial login, you might find yourself skipping cPanel entirely when dealing with big transfers.\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>Secret tip\u003C/strong>: Your cPanel username and password work directly in FTP clients like FileZilla, no extra setup needed.\u003Cbr>Let us know if you would like to contribute to this topic or have any questions in the comments section or on our social media pages.\u003C/p>\r\n\r\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>\u003C/p>","2026-04-30T12:00:00+02:00","FTP sounds complex but it's just moving files between your computer and website. Think of it as your hosting's loading dock, perfect for large uploads, backups, or stubborn files.","live",{"fullName":15,"email":16,"id":17,"photo":18},"Tshepiso M","tshepiso.m@afrihost.com","37847",null,[20],{"id":21,"title":22,"slug":23},"37525","Tech","tech",[25],{"card":26,"card2x":30,"large":34,"large2x":39,"small":44,"small2x":49},[27],{"url":28,"width":29,"height":29},"/imager/blogheaderimages/228689/ftp-header_92cad105084368457e52c2ddc8619e83.png",410,[31],{"url":32,"width":33,"height":33},"/imager/blogheaderimages/228689/ftp-header_d24af24f917259fd462e76c73feb2535.png",820,[35],{"url":36,"width":37,"height":38},"/imager/blogheaderimages/228689/ftp-header_3747c9db124320f9ea50238503862733.png",650,440,[40],{"url":41,"width":42,"height":43},"/imager/blogheaderimages/228689/ftp-header_c7a344d1d65eb69351ebdcb8d0d18537.png",1300,880,[45],{"url":46,"width":47,"height":48},"/imager/blogheaderimages/228689/ftp-header_8b62dffe74c5fd495051f288cba61d41.png",360,244,[50],{"url":51,"width":52,"height":53},"/imager/blogheaderimages/228689/ftp-header_b3ca3b38248a896b3ba2b94e94d92271.png",720,488,"Learn when to use FTP, how to connect with FileZilla, and why SFTP keeps you safe. And what you need to use to access and load files.",[56],{"id":57,"url":58},"228690","/uploads/blog/seo-images/FTP-OG.png",{"categories":60},[61,63,68,73,77],{"id":21,"title":22,"description":62,"slug":23},"If it wasn't for tech, where would we be? Read up on the latest gadgets, devices and everything in the tech we found interesting",{"id":64,"title":65,"description":66,"slug":67},"37526","Entertainment","Whether it be movies, TV shows, music or gaming the internet has so much to offer. Get the latest on what we've stumbled upon.","entertainment",{"id":69,"title":70,"description":71,"slug":72},"37527","Lifehacks","Do things faster and smarter! Lifehacks are all about the shortcuts that make life soooo much easier!","lifehacks",{"id":74,"title":75,"description":71,"slug":76},"37528","LOL","lol",{"id":78,"title":79,"description":80,"slug":81},"37529","Afrihost Life","Welcome to the family! See what we do behind the scenes. The good, bad, ugly, weird and funny.","afrihost-life",1777725529893]