As a WordPress webmaster with over 15 years of experience, I can tell you that FTP is one of the most useful tools available for managing your WordPress site.
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It allows you to directly access, edit, upload, and manage the files on your hosting server from your local computer.
In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll explain exactly what FTP is, why it‘s important for WordPress, and how to use it to upload WordPress files and keep your site running smoothly.
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Why FTP is Essential for WordPress
There are many great benefits of using FTP for your WordPress site:
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Install WordPress – Upload the WordPress core files from your computer to install it on your web server.
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Update WordPress – Manually update WordPress by replacing the old files with the newest version.
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Install themes/plugins – Upload themes and plugins from your PC to your live site.
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Update themes/plugins – Upload the latest versions of themes and plugins to update them.
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Edit files – Modify files like wp-config.php and functions.php directly on the server.
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Manage media – Quickly upload lots of images, docs, videos at once.
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Fix issues – Troubleshoot problems by accessing files and error logs.
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Secure backups – Download entire site to your computer for backups.
According to WP Engine‘s Q2 2019 report, over 17.2 million websites are now powered by WordPress. The flexibility of FTP is a key reason it has become the world‘s most popular CMS.
FTP Clients for WordPress
An FTP client is a software program that allows you to connect to your web host‘s FTP server from your local computer.
There are many excellent free and paid FTP clients available:
| FTP Client | Platform | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| FileZilla | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free | ***** |
| WinSCP | Windows | Free | **** |
| Cyberduck | Mac, Windows | Free | **** |
| Transmit | Mac | $34 | ***** |
| SmartFTP | Windows | $35 | **** |
FileZilla is my personal favorite for WordPress. It‘s completely free, open source, available for every platform, and very reliable and easy to use.
Other excellent paid options include Transmit for Mac, which has an extremely polished interface, and SmartFTP for Windows which is very robust.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using FTP for WordPress
Follow this simple step-by-step tutorial to use FTP to manage your WordPress files:
1. Get Your FTP Login Details
You‘ll need your FTP hostname, username, and password, which are provided by your web hosting provider.
If you don‘t have them yet, log into your hosting account, go to the control panel, and look for the FTP details.
2. Download an FTP Client
Download and install an FTP client program like FileZilla on the computer you want to transfer files from. The interface looks like this:
3. Connect to Your FTP Server
Open your FTP client and enter your FTP hostname, username, and password to connect.
The host will usually be yourdomain.com and starts with ftp://
4. Transfer Files To and From Server
You‘ll now see your WordPress files and folders on the right. Upload, edit, delete, download, and manage them however you need.
And that‘s the basics of using FTP with WordPress!
FTP Security Concerns
One downside of FTP is that it transmits all data, including your username and password, unencrypted as plain text. This makes it vulnerable to potential eavesdropping and attacks.
There are two more secure FTP protocols that help protect your sensitive information:
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SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol): Uses SSH to encrypt the FTP connection. Most web hosts now offer SFTP access.
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FTPS (FTP over SSL): Uses SSL/TLS to encrypt the FTP connection. Requires SSL certificate and FTP client that supports FTPS.
So whenever possible, use SFTP or FTPS instead for better security.
Troubleshooting WordPress with FTP
In over 15 years working with WordPress, I‘ve used FTP to resolve many tricky issues like:
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Fixing permissions errors preventing image uploads.
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Restoring wp-config.php if accidentally deleted or corrupted.
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Removing problematic plugins or code.
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Rolling back recent theme/plugin updates.
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Downloading access/error logs to diagnose problems.
Having FTP access can really save the day if your site goes down or starts having problems after changes. I highly recommend all WordPress site owners get comfortable using it!
Conclusion
FTP remains an essential tool for WordPress success in 2022 and beyond. It enables you to fully manage your WordPress files from your local computer.
Use this guide to start leveraging the power of FTP to install WordPress, manage plugins and themes, upload lots of media files, securely backup your site, and troubleshoot problems.
Just download a trusted FTP client like FileZilla, get your hosting FTP login details, and connect your computer to your web server for ultimate WordPress control!
