To connect to a WordPress site with FileZilla, obtain the exact server hostname, protocol, port, username and authentication method from your hosting provider. In FileZilla, open File → Site Manager → New Site, enter those details, choose SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol whenever it is available, and click Connect. After authentication, use the message log and remote directory tree to confirm access and find the folder containing wp-admin, wp-content and wp-includes.
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Use FTPS if SFTP is unavailable but encrypted FTP over TLS is offered. Plain FTP sends credentials and files without encryption and should be used only when the host provides no encrypted alternative. Back up the site files and database before changing anything.
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What you need before opening FileZilla
FileZilla cannot guess the connection details for your WordPress installation. Those values belong to the hosting account, and a WordPress administrator password is not necessarily the same as an FTP, FTPS or SFTP password. Ask the hosting provider for a connection profile that identifies all of the following:
- Hostname: the server address for the file-transfer service. Enter it exactly as supplied; do not add a trailing slash unless the host explicitly instructs you to.
- Protocol: SFTP, FTPS or FTP. The protocol determines encryption, authentication and often the port.
- Port: the service port. A host may use a custom port that overrides the usual default.
- Username: the complete FTP/SFTP account name, including any prefix or suffix the host requires.
- Password or private key: password authentication is common, while some SFTP accounts require an SSH private key instead.
- Account scope: whether the account opens directly in the WordPress directory or in a higher-level directory from which you must navigate.
Create or confirm the file-transfer account in the hosting control panel before troubleshooting FileZilla. If the host has separate accounts for different sites, make sure you are using the account assigned to the intended installation.
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Choose SFTP, FTPS or FTP
The safest choice is an encrypted protocol supported by your host. WordPress.org advises: “Whenever possible, use SFTP or FTPS instead of plain FTP so your connection is encrypted.” The same guidance explains that FTP sends data in clear text, creating a risk because files and passwords are not encrypted during transfer.
| Method | Transport and encryption | Authentication | Common default port | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFTP | SSH File Transfer Protocol; encrypted through SSH | Password or SSH private key | 22 | Use whenever the host supports it |
| FTPS | FTP over TLS; encrypted | Usually a username and password | 21 | Use when the host supplies FTP over TLS but not SFTP |
| FTP | Plain FTP; unencrypted | Usually a username and password | 21 | Use only when the host offers no encrypted option |
The ports in the table are common defaults, not guarantees. A custom port supplied by the hosting provider always takes precedence. Selecting FTP when the account is actually SFTP, or selecting SFTP for an FTPS account, can produce an authentication or connection error even when the username and password are correct.
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1. Confirm or create the file-transfer account
Sign in to the hosting control panel and open the area for FTP, FTPS or SFTP accounts. Confirm the account’s username, protocol, server address and port. If SFTP uses key authentication, obtain the private-key file and learn whether the host requires a particular key format. If any value is unclear, ask the host rather than guessing; one incorrect character in a hostname, username or port is enough to prevent a connection.
2. Open Site Manager
- Launch FileZilla.
- Choose File → Site Manager.
- Click New Site to create a saved entry.
Site Manager keeps the connection settings together so you do not have to re-enter them for every session. On a personal computer this is convenient; on a public or shared computer, avoid saving passwords or private keys where another user could retrieve them.
3. Enter the host exactly as supplied
Type the hostname into the Host field. Do not prepend a web protocol such as https://, and do not append a slash unless the provider specifically requires one. Enter the port in the Port field only when the host supplied one or when the service uses a known default. If the provider gave a nonstandard port, use that value instead of FileZilla’s default.
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4. Select the matching protocol
Open the Protocol menu and select SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol for an SFTP account. For an encrypted FTP account, select FTP and choose the host’s explicit FTP over TLS option. Select ordinary FTP only for a plain-FTP account when no encrypted service is available. The protocol selected in FileZilla must match the service enabled for the account.
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5. Choose the correct logon type
For a username-and-password account, choose Normal as the logon type. For an SFTP account authenticated with a key, select the key-based option offered by FileZilla and browse to the private-key file. Do not paste an SSH key into the password field. If you are unsure whether the account expects a password or a key, ask the hosting provider which authentication method is enabled.
6. Enter the username and authentication details
Enter the full username issued by the host. Passwords are case-sensitive, so check capitalization, spaces and punctuation carefully. If the host supplied a private key, select that key and follow the provider’s instructions for any passphrase. Do not save credentials on a computer that other people can use.
7. Connect and save the entry
Click Connect to test the profile. You can save the site entry first and connect from Site Manager, which is useful for repeated maintenance. The first SFTP connection may display a host-key confirmation. Verify that the server identity matches the information from your host before accepting it.
Confirm that FileZilla reached the WordPress server
Read the message log
A successful session shows a sequence of connection, authentication and directory-listing messages in FileZilla’s message area. Authentication success alone is not enough if the client cannot retrieve the directory listing. Read the final status lines for a successful login and a listed remote directory. When FileZilla reports an error, preserve the exact wording; it tells you whether the problem occurred before login, during authentication or while reading the directory.
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Inspect the remote directory tree
The remote pane displays folders on the server. Open directories until you find the WordPress installation root, normally identifiable by the presence of all three core directories:
wp-admin, which contains the administration files;wp-content, which contains site themes, plugins and uploaded content; andwp-includes, which contains WordPress core libraries.
Do not assume that the first directory shown after login is the installation root. Some accounts open above the site files, while others are restricted directly to them. Confirm the three directories before uploading, replacing or deleting anything.
Distinguish the remote pane from your local files
FileZilla shows your computer’s files in one pane and the server’s files in the other. Before a transfer, check the path displayed above each pane so you do not copy a local file into the wrong remote directory or download a production file over a local copy. A visible WordPress directory tree is evidence that you have access; it is not evidence that you are in the correct site, so verify the account and environment as well.
Prepare safely before changing files
Back up both parts of WordPress
WordPress recommends having a current backup of the site files and the database before uploading, replacing or deleting files. A file transfer cannot restore database content, settings or posts, so a files-only backup is incomplete. Confirm that the backup can be recovered before making a risky change.
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Check whether the directory is production or staging
Hosting accounts may contain more than one WordPress installation. Confirm the intended production or staging directory before you transfer anything. A staging copy is useful for testing, but it is not a substitute for backing up the live site.
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Treat wp-config.php as sensitive
wp-config.php is normally located in the installation root and contains database connection information. Do not casually expose it, email it, or edit it without a specific reason and a recoverable backup. If you download it for inspection, store it securely and remove unnecessary copies when finished.
Change permissions only with a clear reason
Permissions and ownership determine whether WordPress and the web server can read or write files. Changing modes blindly can create a security problem or leave the site unable to update. If WordPress cannot write to a directory, ask the host to check ownership and access requirements before changing permissions in FileZilla.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common FileZilla connection failures
FileZilla makes no connection attempt
Recheck the hostname, protocol and port in Site Manager. One incorrect character can stop the request before the server has a chance to authenticate you. Compare each field with the host-issued profile rather than with a value copied from a different site or account. Make sure the account is active and that you selected the intended Site Manager entry.
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Compare the username and password with the host’s records, including capitalization. WordPress administrator credentials do not automatically work as FTP or SFTP credentials. Confirm that the account has not been disabled, that you selected the correct protocol, and that the host has not changed the password. If the account uses SFTP keys, verify that FileZilla is using the correct private key instead of attempting password authentication.
“Could not retrieve directory listing”
After opening the Site Manager entry, select the Transfer Settings tab and try Passive mode. Passive mode changes how the data connection is negotiated and can resolve a login that succeeds but cannot list files. Reconnect after changing the setting and check the message log again.
SFTP authentication fails
Ask the host whether the account requires password authentication or an SSH private key. Confirm the SFTP port, especially if the provider supplied a custom value, and ensure that the selected key belongs to this account. A valid password for an FTP account will not authenticate an SFTP account configured for key-only access.
Files appear to be missing
Hidden files may not be shown in the remote tree. In current FileZilla versions, use View → Show hidden files; in some versions the command appears under Server → Force show hidden files. Enable it when you need to inspect files such as .htaccess. Do not conclude that a file was deleted simply because it is hidden.
WordPress asks for FTP credentials during an update
This generally means WordPress cannot write to the relevant files or directories. It does not mean you should enter unrelated credentials or make every file writable. Check ownership and permissions with the hosting provider, confirm that the account is operating in the correct installation directory, and correct the underlying access issue before attempting another update.
Use FileZilla for a controlled transfer
Download before editing
When you need to inspect a configuration or theme file, download a copy to a protected local folder first. Keep the original remote file untouched until you have a verified backup and understand the change. This gives you a recovery copy if an edit introduces a syntax error or breaks the site.
Upload only to the verified installation root
Before an upload, compare the remote path with the location of wp-admin, wp-content and wp-includes. A correct file placed one directory too high or too low may appear to transfer successfully but have no effect. If FileZilla asks whether to overwrite an existing file, stop and confirm that the replacement is intentional and that the backup is current.
Keep transfers narrow
Transfer only the files required for the task. Avoid deleting unfamiliar directories, replacing core files with versions from another installation, or changing permission settings as a guess. If a repair requires many files, use the host’s documented procedure and retain a copy of the previous version.
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After a transfer, check FileZilla’s transfer queue and message log for failed items. Reopen the remote directory and verify that the intended file is present. Then test the affected WordPress function in the appropriate environment, keeping the backup available until the result is confirmed.
A quick decision framework
- Choose SFTP when the host offers it and follow the host’s password or SSH-key instructions.
- Choose FTPS when the host provides FTP over TLS but no SFTP service.
- Use plain FTP only when the host gives no encrypted alternative, understanding that the transfer is unencrypted.
- Use the host’s custom port whenever one is supplied; the common defaults do not override provider instructions.
- If login works but files do not appear, investigate directory listing mode and hidden-file display before changing credentials.
What a successful setup gives you
A correctly configured Site Manager entry lets FileZilla authenticate to the intended hosting account, list the remote directories and open the WordPress installation. The reliable indicators are a successful authentication message, a readable remote directory tree and the presence of wp-admin, wp-content and wp-includes. From there, safe maintenance depends less on FileZilla than on using the right environment, preserving backups and respecting the ownership and sensitivity of WordPress files.
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