Basic FTP Transfer

To transfer files between your local computer and remote server, use File Transfer Protocol (FTP). While you may use any FTP client, this article uses FileZilla, an open-source program downloadable for free from here.

Please make certain that you have an FTP account on the server and the necessary port is open.

Become Familiar with FileZilla's Interface

While many FTP clients look different, they all share the same basic functionalities: access remote server, view local and remote files, and transfer files between local computer and remote server.

1. Toolbar

2. Quick Connect bar

3. Message log: displays transfer and connection related messages

4. Local file listings: displays local files and directories on your local computer. It has a directory tree at the top and a detailed listing of the currently selected directory’s contents at the bottom.

5. Remote file listings: displays files and directories on your server. It has a directory tree at the top and a detailed listing of the currently selected directory's contents at the bottom.

6. Transfer queue: lists pending and successfully-transferred files.

Connect to the server.

All FTP clients require the same set of information to access a server.

Host: domain name or IP of the server

Username: FTP account user name

Password: FTP account password

Port: leave it blank or use default setting

If your FTP client specifies a protocol (e.g. SFTP or FTPS), enter the hostname as follows: sftp://hostname or ftps://hostname, respectively.

Click Quickconnect.

If connection is successful, the Remote section of the FTP client displays files and directories on the server.

Upload Files or Folders to Server

Navigate to the appropriate source directory in the Local file listings section.

Navigate to the appropriate destination directory in the Remote File Listings section.

Select the files/directories you wish to upload from the Local file listings area and drag and drop the files/directories to the Remote File Listings area.

If you don't like using drag-and-drop, you can also right click on files/directories (in the local file pane) and select Upload to upload them - or simply double-click a file entry (this does not work for directories).

To download files/directories from server to local computer, reverse Step 2 above.

In case you (accidentally) try to overwrite a file during upload or download, FileZilla will by default display a dialog asking what to do (overwrite, rename, skip...).