How to Access or Connect to Your FTP Account via the FileZilla FTP?

Open FileZilla and connect with FTPS on port 21 using the login shown in cPanel. The quickest way is cPanel: Files → FTP Accounts → Configure FTP Client for your account, download the FileZilla config, open it in FileZilla, then click Connect.

Before you start

• Have cPanel access. If you do not know the password, log in at portal.hostworld.uk and use Single Sign‑On on your hosting service to launch cPanel without re‑entering credentials.
• Install the current FileZilla client.
• If your domain is not pointed to us yet, note the server name or IP under “Manual Settings” on the Configure FTP Client screen in cPanel.

Step 1: Get the correct FTP login from cPanel

• In cPanel go to Files → FTP Accounts. For the primary login, use your main cPanel username on port 21. For any FTP account you created, use the full username format like [email protected]. This avoids “530 Login authentication failed”.
• Click Configure FTP Client next to the account. Keep that page open. It shows Manual Settings (server/host and port) and provides a FileZilla configuration download.
• Undo: If you created the wrong FTP account, remove or edit it on the same page. Do not delete anything listed under “Special FTP Accounts”.

Step 2: Import or create a secure connection in FileZilla

• Auto import: In cPanel, click Configure FTP Client → download the FileZilla config. Open the downloaded file. FileZilla will import a Site Manager entry with the correct host, port and username. Connect.
• Manual setup: FileZilla → File → Site Manager → New Site:
  • Protocol: FTP – File Transfer Protocol
  • Encryption: Require explicit FTP over TLS
  • Host: the server name or IP from cPanel’s Manual Settings. Use your domain only once it resolves to our server.
  • Port: 21
  • Logon Type: Normal
  • Username: your main cPanel username, or the full [email protected] for a created FTP account
  • Password: the matching password for that account
• Click Connect. On first FTPS connect, FileZilla may show “Unknown certificate”. Check the host matches what you entered, then trust it to proceed.
• Note: SFTP is different to FTPS. Only use SFTP if you have SSH access and are logging in with the main cPanel username. FTP‑only subaccounts cannot use SFTP.
• Undo: If you picked the wrong protocol or host, return to Site Manager, correct it, or delete the saved entry and re‑import from cPanel.

Step 3: Upload to the right folder and keep overwrite prompts on

• In the Remote site pane, open public_html. That is the document root for the primary domain. Uploading elsewhere will not publish your site.
• Keep FileZilla’s overwrite prompt: Edit → Settings → Transfers → File exists action → leave it on “Ask for action”. Optionally use View → Directory comparison and Synchronised browsing to spot differences before you replace files.
• Undo: If you uploaded to the wrong place, open cPanel → File Manager and move the files into public_html, or delete the misplaced copies and re‑upload the correct versions.

If it does not work

• “530 Login authentication failed”: Use the exact username format. Main login uses the cPanel username. Created FTP accounts use the full [email protected]. Copy the host, port and username from cPanel → FTP Accounts → Configure FTP Client.
• Connection or TLS errors: First connection will prompt about an unknown certificate. Verify the host and trust it. If the TLS handshake fails, update FileZilla and ensure Encryption is “Require explicit FTP over TLS”. Do not switch to plain FTP.
• Connected but nothing appears live: Upload into public_html. If your domain has not propagated, connect using the server name or IP from “Manual Settings”. If listings stall behind a firewall, enable passive mode in FileZilla.

What next

If you want to use SFTP with SSH keys or you manage a server yourself, see our VPS guides for SSH and SFTP fundamentals. If you are still stuck or want us to check the server name, SSL status or account details on your service, open a support ticket and we will take a look.