If you don’t already have an FTP program, now is the time to get one. As a blogger with your own domain and self-hosted blog, you’ll benefit from having one. In some cases you absolutely need one to install certain files. I’m going to show you how to download and install the free FTP client FileZilla. This is going to be a fairly comprehensive “how to” so if you are pretty computer savvy, you can probably skip this.
First, go to FileZilla and download the program.
Since I’m running on Windows XP, I’ll be choosing the first option. Choose according to what operating system you’re using.
Depending on your operating system and browser, you’ll have the option to save the file. Hopefully you have your download folder set to something that’s easy to find and not some obscure folder hiding on your hard drive.
Once you save the file, locate it in the proper folder. Double click the file and start the installation process. Leave everything set to default and finish installing. Click “Finish” and let FileZilla load.
When you load FileZilla, you’ll come to this blank screen:
This is when you’ll need to use your FTP login information. When you signed up for web hosting, you received a welcome email with your FTP info. Hopefully you’ve kept this in a safe place. You’ll need your Username, Password, and IP address. Enter those three things in and hit the Quickconnect button.
If you entered the information in correctly, the folders on your server will be listed in the main window. Now you can navigate to the folders and files so you can edit, delete or add to them.
Having an FTP program will save you loads of time and allow you to perform certain tasks like editing WordPress files without changing permission settings.
6 comments ↓
FileZilla is probably the best free FTP program out there. For a paid FTP program, I like Ipswitch WS_FTP Pro, but there are tons of other good ones out there.
One thing to think about security-wise is that fact that there are people online watching and trying to catch unsecured usernames and passwords. I am part of the WP forums community and one way many people get their sites hacked is by some malicious jerk intercepting their FTP logins.
There are two alternatives to help protect yourself.
1. Login to your FTP account through a secure connection (your host will need to be able to allow for that)
2. Instead of using FTP to upload files, log into your web hosting control panel which should be a secured connection (i.e. https://... ). Use the upload and download function from there. Your hosting account should also include a zip and unzip function as well as a text editor which can edit pretty much any file.
@John – good to know. I can’t imagine using the control panel to upload files though. FTP makes it so fast! I had to edit a client’s files and upload a bunch through Hostgator control panel and it was torture.
When I have to upload a bunch of files, I’ll zip them up and upload just one file, then unzip them once they are uploaded. Could be a pain having to then move files to different directories once on the server, though, if they don’t all go in the same one.
FTP definitely is quicker and easier I suppose. I believe Filezilla allows for secured logins. That’s part of why it’s a great program.
.-= John Hoff – WpBlogHost´s last blog ..Make Things Easy To Find On Your Site =-.
Filezilla is definitely the best, free, FTP client. Good call.
It has a ton of useful features, and each new release brings more FTP Yumminess.
I agree completely Chris. Thanks for stopping by.
I use FileZilla too – excellent program!
Keep up the good work Cassie!
.-= Jack Z´s last blog ..Canadian, Please =-.
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