First things first: What is FTP?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. As its name suggests, it is, quite simply a way to transfer files.

You’re probably quite familiar with the idea of transferring files and do this all the time: copying your document files from one folder on your computer to another, or copying your mp3s onto your music player, for example.

Well, FTP is very similar, except instead of transferring files between two folders on the same computer or to a device connected to your computer, you’re transferring the files to a completely different computer via the Internet.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the steps of using one particular FTP program (FileZilla) to transfer files from your computer to your website host’s server (i.e. the computer owned by your hosting company where the files for your website are stored).

What is FileZilla?

FileZilla is what’s called an FTP client. It’s a software program that must be installed on your computer, and which allows you to transfer your files quickly and easily over a secure connection.

FileZilla is not only easy to use, it is also free to use. Happy dance all round!

Step 1: Download the FileZilla software

Go to the FileZilla website and click on the button to download the FileZilla Client.

Once your download is complete, double-click on the file and follow the instructions to install the software to your computer.

Step 2: Connect to the computer where your website files are stored

Open your newly installed FileZilla program.

In order to access your website files on your host’s server, you’ll need three things: the name of the place where your files are stored (the FTP address), a username and a password. Luckily, these three pieces of information will have been sent to you in a welcome email by your web host when you signed up with them.

Here are some examples of welcome emails from hosts (with all the interesting information blurred, of course!). You’ll be looking for something similar in the email you received from your hosting company.

Once you’ve located this information, enter it into the three fields towards the top of the FileZilla screen, as shown below, and click the Quickconnect button to the right of these fields.

When you do this, you’ll notice a whole lot of action happen in the area just below where you entered your login information. Don’t be alarmed – this is good! It means that you have successfully connected to your web host’s server.

Step 3: Transferring files

Once you’ve connected successfully to your web host, your website files should now appear in the right-hand pane in FileZilla. The left-hand pane displays the files on your own computer. Each pane is further divided into two: the top half shows the directory listing, and the bottom half shows the files and folders within each directory.

The process of transferring files now resembles what you do when you transfer files between folders on the same computer – in other words, you locate the file on your computer that you want to copy by navigating through the folders in the left-hand pane in FileZilla, and then you drag it across to the right-hand pane and drop it into the folder in which you want it to be.

For the most part, you’ll be transferring files to the public_html folder on your host’s server. The exact location within this folder depends on the file you’re transferring.

As you transfer files, you’ll notice the transfer progress detailed at the bottom of the FileZilla screen, in addition to more scrolling information happening at the top of the screen.

Step 4: Disconnecting

When you’re done transferring files, disconnect from the server by clicking the button at the top with the red X on it.