How do I connect via FTP to my site?

Use an FTP client to connect with SFTP using your cPanel username on port 22, or with FTPS using the server’s hostname on port 21, then upload into public_html. Create an FTP account in cPanel if you want to limit access to a specific folder.

Before you start

• Your Hostworld client area login for Single Sign On to cPanel, or your cPanel username and password. If you cannot sign in to the client area, use the password reset which emails a verification link valid for two hours.
• An FTP/SFTP client installed. cPanel provides auto‑configuration files for Cyberduck and CoreFTP.
• Your server hostname or IP. In cPanel, go to FTP Accounts, then Configure FTP Client for any user to see the Manual Settings.

Step 1: Sign in to cPanel from your Hostworld account

1. Go to https://portal.hostworld.uk and log in.
2. Open Services, then My Services, click your hosting plan, then select Login to cPanel.

If you cannot log in to the client area, use the reset on the login page. WHMCS will email a confirmation link. You must click it before you can set a new password.

Step 2: Take a quick backup you can roll back to

1. In cPanel, open Backup or Backup Wizard.
2. Download a Home Directory backup. This contains public_html.

Undo step: if an upload breaks the site, use Backup Wizard to restore the Home Directory, or extract the archive on your computer and re‑upload the files you changed.

Step 3: Connect with SFTP or FTPS

SFTP for the primary cPanel account (recommended)

• Only the main cPanel account can use SFTP. FTP sub‑accounts cannot.

Protocol:  SFTP
Host:      Your server hostname or IP
Port:      22
Username:  Your cPanel username
Password:  Your cPanel password

FTPS for FTP sub‑accounts

1. In cPanel, open FTP Accounts and Add FTP Account if you need a separate login. The Directory you set becomes that user’s top level and they cannot escape it.
2. In your FTP client, use explicit TLS. Do not choose plain FTP.

Protocol:  FTP with explicit TLS (FTPS)
Host:      The server hostname (not your domain)
Port:      21
Username:  The full username (e.g. [email protected])
Mode:      Passive

On shared IPs you must log in with the full FTP username format. If your cPanel account has a dedicated IP, the cPanel username may also work for FTP. FTP does not support SNI. For FTPS, use the server hostname so the certificate matches.

Get the exact settings from cPanel

In cPanel, go to FTP Accounts, find the user, then click Configure FTP Client. Use the Manual Settings shown or download the auto‑configuration file offered for Cyberduck or CoreFTP.

If your domain is not pointed to Hostworld yet, connect using the server hostname or IP.

Step 4: Upload to the correct location and tidy up access

• The primary domain’s web root is public_html. Upload site files there. Files outside public_html are not publicly served.
• If you created an FTP sub‑account, you will land in its assigned Directory and cannot go higher.
• When finished, remove any temporary FTP account in cPanel under FTP Accounts. Choose Delete or Delete Account. Do not click Delete Account and Files if the account could access public_html, or you will remove the entire site directory.

If it does not work

• Certificate or host mismatch on FTPS: connect to the server hostname shown under Configure FTP Client in cPanel. Do not use your domain for FTPS on shared hosting because FTP lacks SNI.
• Login fails: for SFTP use the cPanel username on port 22. For FTPS use the full FTP username, for example [email protected]. Sub‑accounts cannot use SFTP.
• Directory listing or transfers time out: set your client to Passive mode. Firewalls and NAT often block Active mode on FTP.

If you are still stuck, open a support ticket and tell us the protocol, host, port and the exact error.

What next

For a broader view of file transfer methods and when to use SFTP versus FTPS, read our longer guide in our VPS guides if you plan to move to server management. If you expect to grow into your own server where SFTP is standard, see our London VPS range. If you need help at any point, open a support ticket.