How to Create and Connect an FTP Account using FileZilla.

June 07, 2026 Web Hosting and Control Panels (cPanel)

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the best and fastest way to upload large folders, backup files, or entire web design frameworks to your hosting server.

To use FTP, you need to create an FTP account in your control panel and download a free FTP client like FileZilla. Follow these simple steps to set it up:

Section 1: How to Create an FTP Account in cPanel

Log in to your cPanel dashboard directly.
Under the Files section, click on the "FTP Accounts" icon.

Under Add FTP Account, fill in the following details:
Log in: Enter your preferred FTP username (e.g.: developer).

Note: Your full FTP username will look like [email protected].

Password: Enter a strong password or use the Password Generator.
Directory: This is highly important! By default, cPanel will autofill a path like public_html/developer. If you want this user to have access to your entire website, delete everything after public_html so the path is just public_html.

Quota: Set this to Unlimited unless you want to limit the file storage capacity for this user.

Click the "Create FTP Account" button.

Section 2: How to Connect via FileZilla

Download and install the free FileZilla Client on your computer.
Open FileZilla. At the very top, you will see a Quickconnect bar with four fields: Host, Username, Password, and Port.
Enter the configuration details carefully:
Host: Type ftp.yourdomain.com (replace with your actual domain name) or enter your server's IP address.
Username: Enter the Full FTP Username you created in Section 1 (e.g., [email protected]).
Password: Enter the exact FTP password you set in cPanel.
Port: Type 21 (the standard port for FTP).
Click the "Quickconnect" button.

If a popup appears regarding an "Unknown Certificate", check the box that says "Always trust this certificate" and click OK (this ensures a secure TLS connection).

Understanding the FileZilla Interface

Once successfully connected, the interface will show two main sides:

Left Side (Local Site): The files and folders stored on your local computer.
Right Side (Remote Site): The files and folders stored on your CeylonServers hosting storage.

To Upload Files: Simply drag files from the left side (your computer) and drop them into the public_html folder on the right side.

Need Assistance? If FileZilla gives a "Critical Error: Could not connect to server" message, please double-check that your domain's DNS is fully active, or try using your server's IP address in the Host field. For further help, click "Open Ticket" from the top menu to reach our technical support team!