Beginner’s Guide to FTP Hosting

FTP is a network protocol used to transmit files from a local computer to a distant computer – and vice versa. It is most often used to download and upload web page content from the internet. Web pages are typically produced on a local computer and then transferred through FTP to your ISP’s web server. While working on your website, you will almost certainly encounter a circumstance in which you will need to access your server using FTP. FTP is the abbreviation for file transfer protocol. It’s available to assist you with uploading a new file to your server, editing an existing file on your website, or even creating a backup of all your WordPress files.

1. Obtain and install an FTP client.

Several FTP clients are available, but their distinctions are irrelevant to the average user who wants to transfer data to and from a server. As you gain expertise, you may choose to experiment with various possibilities to discover one that perfectly fits your requirements, but for now, sticking with the most common selections will suffice.

Double-click the downloaded package to begin the installation procedure. The software installs similarly to other programs on your system, but you should be informed that certain offers for free trials or other offers will be installed during the installation process; if you do not intend to utilize these apps, unmark the tickbox.

2. Connect to your server using this application.

It would help if you utilized it to establish a connection to your server; your client will operate as a conduit between your computer and the server, enabling you to transfer data easily.

The hostname and port number should be irrelevant; the host is merely your website URL, while the port number is nearly always 21. Your login and password will be unique to your host.

When you sign up for a hosting account, most bigger servers will send you your FTP credentials. If your host manages your site using cPanel, the username and password are often the same as your cPanel login credentials.

If you are unsure about your FTP credentials, contact your host’s help department since most hosts provide this information in their documentation. In the absence of it, contact the customer care staff for your host, who will very probably be able to help you.

3. In the FTP application, locate the files you want to upload and the directory to which they should be uploaded.

After establishing the connection, we’ll need to determine which files you want to upload and where you wish to submit them. This is the most technical element; therefore, it is recommended that you reach out to FTP hosting pros. Use the put command from the FTP prompt to upload a file to an FTP server. To begin, use the following command to go to the directory on the FTP server to which you want to upload a file. It will upload the local system file c:filesfile1.txt to the FTP server’s uploads directory.

4. Upload the files to the server using the FTP client.

There are many methods for this; however, keep in mind that transferring the data generates a duplicate rather than relocating the original. You may copy files between windows by dragging and dropping them. While files may be dragged from the main window, folders can also be dragged from the folder hierarchy; this allows you to move the whole contents of the folder in one go. Alternatively, right-click on the file/folder you want to transfer and choose Upload from the resulting list.

Something to keep in mind is that, although initiating a file upload is simple, it might take a long time depending on your internet connection and server capabilities; this wait time is further increased if you are uploading a large number of little files rather than a single large one. Extracted quick start packages should take between 20-40 minutes to upload on a basic hosting account. However, this might vary.

Once you’ve mastered FTP, you’ll be able to effortlessly access, modify, and upload files on your server. This allows you to backup the installation and make several modifications to the WordPress and theme files.