{"id":13578,"date":"2018-12-19T08:28:47","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T08:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=13578"},"modified":"2026-05-14T17:48:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:48:57","slug":"what-is-ftp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp","title":{"rendered":"What is FTP? A beginner\u2019s guide to File Transfer Protocol"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a computer and a server over the internet or a local network. It helps you upload, download, and move files like documents, images, videos, or website files from one place to another.<\/p><p>Think of it this way: if you have a file on your computer that you want to send to a server or another computer, FTP provides the connection that makes the transfer possible. It can be used through command-line tools or FTP software, also called an FTP client.<\/p><p>Here&rsquo;s how the pieces work together:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protocol.<\/strong> The set of rules that tells computers how to communicate when transferring files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Client.<\/strong> Your computer, device, or FTP application &ndash; the one requesting, uploading, or downloading files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Server.<\/strong> The computer that stores the files and controls access to them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transfer.<\/strong> The process of copying a file from the server to the client, or from the client to the server. The file usually stays in its original location unless you delete or move it separately.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>FTP works because both computers follow the same rules for packaging, sending, and receiving files. This makes it useful for moving everything from small text documents to large website files.<\/p><p>Check out this video that walks through the process to learn more about how FTP actually works in practice.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What is FTP? And how does it work? Explained for beginners\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HI0Oh4NJqcI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"youtube-shortcode\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-7 col-sm-8 d-flex align-items-center\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"channel-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/themes\/tutorialsthemeuplift\/public\/images\/youtube-channels\/hostinger-academy.jpg\" alt=\"youtube channel logo\">\n        <div class=\"d-flex flex-column justify-content-between\">\n          <span class=\"slogan d-none d-sm-block\">Subscribe For more educational videos!<\/span>\n          <span class=\"channel-name\">Hostinger Academy<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"col-5 col-sm-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-end\">\n          <a class=\"subscribe-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCbNIC-svDbtUOH2qsLnPQPg?sub_confirmation=1\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/themes\/tutorialsthemeuplift\/public\/images\/icons\/youtube.svg\" alt=\"subscribe\">\n            <span>Subscribe<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-ftp-used-for\">What is FTP used for<\/h2><p>FTP is used to move files between a local computer and a remote server. It&rsquo;s especially useful when you need to upload, download, organize, or update files directly on a server.<\/p><p>Common FTP uses include:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Website development.<\/strong> Upload website files, images, themes, plugins, and code to a web server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>File sharing.<\/strong> Transfer large files between computers, team members, or external collaborators.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Backups.<\/strong> Download copies of important website files or store backups on a remote server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Media distribution.<\/strong> Move large video, audio, or image files without relying on basic browser upload tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Server management.<\/strong> Upload configuration files, update software files, or manage folders on a remote server.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>FTP is also helpful for bulk transfers because many FTP clients let you move multiple files at once. Some tools can also resume interrupted transfers, so you don&rsquo;t always need to start over when the connection drops.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-ftp-work\">How does FTP work<\/h2><p>FTP works by establishing a connection between two parties that need to communicate on the network. To do that, users need permission by providing credentials to the FTP server. Some public FTP servers may not require credentials to access their files, a practice that is common in so-called anonymous FTP.<\/p><p>There are two distinct communication channels while establishing an FTP connection. The first one is called the command channel, which initiates the instruction and response. The other one is called a data channel, where the distribution of data happens.<\/p><p>To get or transfer a file, an authorized person will use the protocol to request changes in the server. In return, the server will grant that access. This session is known as the active connection mode.<\/p><p>The distribution in active mode might face a problem if a firewall is protecting the user&rsquo;s machine. The firewall usually does not allow any unauthorized sessions from an external party.<\/p><p><span style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">If that issue occurs, the&nbsp;<strong>passive<\/strong>&nbsp;mode is used. In this mode, the user establishes both the command and the data channel. The server then asks to&nbsp;<strong>listen<\/strong>&nbsp;rather than&nbsp;<\/span>attempt to create a connection back to the user.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-use-ftp\">How to use FTP<\/h2><p>You can use FTP via three main approaches: command-line tools, web browsers, or dedicated FTP client software.<\/p><p>A simple method is using a command-line FTP, such as using the Command Prompt for Windows or the Terminal on Mac\/Linux. Developers still use this today to transfer files using FTP.<\/p><p>A user can also use a web browser to communicate with the FTP server. A web browser is more convenient when users want to access large directories on the server. Yet, it&rsquo;s often less reliable and slower than using a dedicated FTP program.<\/p><p>Today, the most common way to use FTP, especially for a web developer, is to use an FTP client.<\/p><p>An FTP client provides more freedom than the command line and a web browser. It is also easier to manage and more powerful than the other methods.<\/p><p>Using a client also offers more features. For example, it allows users to transfer a large file and use the synchronizing utility.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-connect-to-hostinger-with-ftp\">How to connect to Hostinger with FTP<\/h3><p>To connect to Hostinger via FTP, you&rsquo;ll need to create an FTP account in your Hostinger dashboard and then use an FTP client to connect with those credentials.<\/p><p>There are many FTP clients to choose from, including free open-source applications and premium options. If you&rsquo;re looking for great options, check out our guide to the <a href=\"\/tutorials\/free-ftp-clients\">best free FTP clients for Windows, Mac, and Linux<\/a>.<\/p><p>For this article, we&rsquo;ll use <a href=\"\/tutorials\/filezilla-ftp-configuration\">FileZilla<\/a>, a popular, open-source FTP client.<\/p><p>First, we&rsquo;ll need an FTP server, which we can set up using our Hostinger account.<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your Hostinger account and navigate to <strong>Websites<\/strong> on the left sidebar. Choose a website and click <strong>Dashboard<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find <strong>FTP Accounts<\/strong> on the left sidebar under <strong>Files,<\/strong> and click on it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a new FTP account by filling out a new username and password.<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1254\" height=\"451\" class=\"wp-image-79435\" style=\"width: 650px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-createanewaccount.png\" alt=\"Creating a new FTP account via hPanel\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-createanewaccount.png\/w=1254,fit=scale-down 1254w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-createanewaccount.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-createanewaccount.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-createanewaccount.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-createanewaccount.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\" \/><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;ll see new FTP servers (Hostname) under the list of active FTP accounts.<br><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1252\" height=\"173\" class=\"wp-image-79448\" style=\"width: 650px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-accountslist.png\" alt=\"The FTP accounts list on hPanel\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-accountslist.png\/w=1252,fit=scale-down 1252w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-accountslist.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-accountslist.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-accountslist.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/hpanel-files-ftpaccounts-accountslist.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1252px) 100vw, 1252px\" \/><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In FileZilla, insert the host, username, and password, and hit the <strong>Quickconnect<\/strong> button. You can also fill in the port number. Otherwise, <a href=\"\/tutorials\/how-to-check-if-ftp-port-21-is-not-blocked\">port 21 is used by default<\/a>.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"474\" class=\"mac-screenshot aligncenter wp-image-26217 size-large\" src=\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50-1024x759.png\" alt=\"filezilla login prompt and quickconnect button\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\/w=1536,fit=scale-down 1536w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-14.23.50.png\/w=2048,fit=scale-down 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The status window will tell you if you are logged in to the FTP server. As you can see in the <strong>Remote site<\/strong> window, the server has these files.<\/li>\n<\/ol><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a class=\"hgr-tutorials-cta hgr-tutorials-cta-web-hosting\" href=\"\/web-hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/public\" alt=\"Hostinger web hosting banner\" class=\"wp-image-98604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/11\/Web-hosting_in-text-banner.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-ftp-safe\">Is FTP safe<\/h2><p>Standard FTP is not considered safe by default because it doesn&rsquo;t encrypt the connection between your computer and the server. This means data can be sent in plain text, including usernames, passwords, and transferred files.<\/p><p>For example, if someone intercepts the connection, they may be able to see your login details or access the files being transferred. This is why regular FTP is not recommended for sensitive data or website management over public networks.<\/p><p>For safer file transfers, use secure alternatives like SFTP or FTPS. These protocols encrypt the connection, helping protect your files and login credentials during transfer.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FTP vs SFTP<\/h3><p>FTP and SFTP are both used to transfer files between a client and a server, but they handle security differently.<\/p><p>FTP<strong> <\/strong>transfers files over a network, usually through port <code>21<\/code>, but it doesn&rsquo;t encrypt data by default. This makes it faster to set up, but less secure.<\/p><p>SFTP stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol. It transfers files through an encrypted SSH connection, usually using port <code>22<\/code>. This helps protect your login details and file data while they move between your computer and the server.<\/p><p>For most website owners, SFTP is the better choice. It offers the same core purpose as FTP &ndash; moving files between your computer and server &ndash; but adds stronger protection for sensitive information. Learn more about <a href=\"\/tutorials\/how-to-use-sftp-to-safely-transfer-files\">how to use SFTP<\/a> with our comprehensive guide.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-should-you-use-ftp\">Should you use FTP<\/h2><p>You should use FTP if you need to transfer large files, manage website files, or move multiple files efficiently between computers.<\/p><p>It&rsquo;s particularly useful for developers, web designers, or anyone who needs reliable file transfers with resume capabilities and cross-platform compatibility. Just make sure to use encrypted versions like SFTP to keep your data secure during transfer.<\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re ready to get started, learn <a href=\"\/tutorials\/how-to-create-ftp-accounts\">how to create an FTP account<\/a> and begin transferring files today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a computer and a server over [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"What is FTP? File Transfer Protocol explained for beginners","rank_math_description":"FTP is a network protocol for transferring files between computers and servers. Learn how FTP works, what it\u2019s used for, and how to use it.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"what is ftp","footnotes":""},"categories":[22628,22630],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hosting","category-technical-aspects"],"hreflangs":[{"locale":"en-US","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"pt-BR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/br\/tutoriais\/ftp-o-que-e-como-funciona","default":0},{"locale":"fr-FR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/fr\/tutoriels\/ftp-signification","default":0},{"locale":"es-ES","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/es\/tutoriales\/que-es-ftp","default":0},{"locale":"id-ID","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/id\/tutorial\/ftp-adalah","default":0},{"locale":"de-DE","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/de\/tutorials\/was-ist-ftp","default":0},{"locale":"nl-NL","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/nl\/tutorials\/wat-is-ftp","default":0},{"locale":"en-GB","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/uk\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-MY","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/my\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-PH","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ph\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"es-MX","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/mx\/tutoriales\/productos-para-vender-5","default":0},{"locale":"es-CO","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/co\/tutoriales\/tipos-de-comercio-electronico-15","default":0},{"locale":"es-AR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ar\/tutoriales\/productos-para-vender-5","default":0},{"locale":"pt-PT","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/pt\/tutoriais\/melhores-plataformas-de-ecommerce-8","default":0},{"locale":"en-IN","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-CA","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-AU","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/au\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-NG","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/what-is-ftp\/","default":0}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13578"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148144,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13578\/revisions\/148144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}