How to Create an FTP Account & Connect FileZilla

FTP lets you upload, download and manage files on your hosting account using software like FileZilla. Here is how to set it up in under 5 minutes.

1 Create an FTP Account in HestiaCP

Log in to HestiaCP at https://yourdomain.co.za:8083. Click Web → click the Edit icon for your domain → scroll down to FTP Accounts → click Add FTP Account. Fill in:

• FTP Username: e.g., mysite_ftp
• FTP Password: Use a strong password
• FTP Path: Leave as default (public_html) for full access, or specify a subfolder for limited access

Click Save. Your FTP account is ready.

2 Download FileZilla

FileZilla is the most popular free FTP client. Download it from filezilla-project.org. Install it like any normal Windows or Mac application.

3 Connect FileZilla to Your Hosting

Open FileZilla. At the top, fill in the Quickconnect bar:

• Host: Your domain (e.g., ftp.yourdomain.co.za) or your server IP
• Username: Your FTP username
• Password: Your FTP password
• Port: 21

Click Quickconnect. FileZilla will connect and show your hosting files on the right panel. Your local files are on the left. Drag and drop to upload or download.

4 Use SFTP for Secure Transfers

SFTP encrypts your files in transit and is more secure than plain FTP. To use SFTP in FileZilla:

1. Go to File → Site Manager → New Site
2. Set Protocol to SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol
3. Set Host to your server IP or domain
4. Set Port to 22
5. Enter your hosting username and password
6. Click Connect

5 Fix File Permission Errors

If you see permission denied errors when WordPress tries to update plugins or themes, file permissions may be wrong. The correct permissions are:

• Folders: 755
• Files: 644

In FileZilla, right-click a folder or file → File Permissions → set the numeric value. Or WhatsApp us and we will fix it remotely in under 2 minutes.