How to Create and Manage FTP Accounts in cPanel Print

FTP accounts allow you to upload, download, and manage your website files through File Transfer Protocol. In cPanel, you can create multiple FTP accounts with different access levels, making it easy to give developers or team members secure access to specific folders without sharing your main cPanel login.

This guide explains how to set up FTP accounts, configure permissions, and troubleshoot common connection issues.

What Are FTP Accounts?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) accounts provide secure access to your website's files and folders. Unlike your main cPanel account, FTP accounts can be restricted to specific directories, making them ideal for:

• Allowing developers to access only their project folders
• Giving designers access to theme and image directories
• Enabling team members to upload content without full server access
• Creating temporary access for contractors or freelancers

OBHost supports both ProFTPD and Pure-FTPd server configurations, ensuring reliable file transfer capabilities for all hosting accounts.

How to Create a New FTP Account

Follow these steps to create an FTP account in your cPanel:

1. Log in to your cPanel account
2. Navigate to the FTP Accounts section under Files
3. Enter a username in the Log In field (this will be part of the full FTP username)
4. Select the domain from the Domain dropdown menu
5. Create a strong password or use the Password Generator for a secure option
6. Specify the directory path where this account should have access
7. Click Create FTP Account to finish

The system automatically creates the full FTP username in the format username@domain.com, which you'll use to connect via FTP client.

Understanding Directory Permissions

When creating an FTP account, the directory setting determines the highest-level folder the account can access. For example:

• Setting public_html allows access to your entire website
• Setting public_html/images restricts access to only the images folder
• Setting public_html/client-projects/project1 limits access to a specific project folder

The FTP user can view, modify, and delete files within their assigned directory and all subdirectories below it, but cannot access folders above this level.

Connecting to Your FTP Account

After creating an FTP account, you'll need these credentials to connect:

• FTP Server/Host: Your domain name or server IP address
• Username: The full username (account@domain.com format)
• Password: The password you created
• Port: 21 (standard FTP) or 22 (SFTP for secure connections)

You can use these credentials with any FTP client software such as FileZilla, Cyberduck, or WinSCP.

Using SFTP for Secure File Transfers

SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) provides encrypted file transfers, protecting your data during transmission. To use SFTP instead of standard FTP:

• Set the port to 22 in your FTP client
• Select SFTP as the connection protocol
• Use the same username and password credentials
• Ensure SSH access is enabled on your hosting account

SFTP is recommended for transferring sensitive files or when connecting over public networks.

Managing Existing FTP Accounts

The FTP Accounts interface displays all existing accounts with options to:

• Change Password: Update the password for security purposes
• Change Quota: Set or modify disk space limits for the account
• View Details: See connection settings and directory information
• Delete Account: Remove access when no longer needed

Regular password updates and removing unused accounts helps maintain your website's security.

Important FTP Account Limitations

Keep these limitations in mind when working with FTP accounts:

• FTP services must be enabled by your hosting provider (OBHost enables this by default)
• On Pure-FTPd servers, only the first 2,000 files per folder are displayed
• You can use your main cPanel username and password for FTP access
• Accounts on shared IP addresses require the full username format (account@domain.com)
• Accounts with dedicated IP addresses can use shortened usernames

Troubleshooting FTP Connection Issues

If you're having trouble connecting to your FTP account:

• Verify you're using the complete username format (account@domain.com)
• Check that your firewall isn't blocking ports 21 (FTP) or 22 (SFTP)
• Ensure passive mode is enabled in your FTP client settings
• Confirm your IP address isn't blocked by server firewalls
• Try connecting via SFTP if standard FTP fails
• Check the Raw Access logs in cPanel to view connection attempts

The Raw Access interface (cPanel > Metrics > Raw Access) shows detailed logs of all FTP connection attempts, which can help diagnose authentication or connection problems.

Best Practices for FTP Account Security

Follow these security recommendations when managing FTP accounts:

• Use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
• Create separate accounts for each user rather than sharing credentials
• Limit directory access to only what each user needs
• Delete accounts immediately when access is no longer required
• Use SFTP instead of standard FTP when handling sensitive data
• Change passwords regularly, especially after team members leave
• Monitor the Raw Access logs for suspicious connection attempts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my cPanel password to access FTP?

Yes, you can use your main cPanel username and password to connect via FTP. This gives you full access to all directories in your account. However, for security reasons, it's better to create separate FTP accounts with limited permissions for other users.

What's the difference between FTP and SFTP?

FTP transfers files without encryption, making it vulnerable to interception. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) encrypts all data during transmission, providing secure file transfers. SFTP uses port 22 instead of port 21 and requires SSH access to be enabled on your hosting account.

Why can't I see all my files in the FTP client?

If your server uses Pure-FTPd, the system displays only the first 2,000 files in each folder by default. If you need to access more files, contact support to adjust this limit, or organize your files into subdirectories to keep individual folder counts below 2,000.

How do I restrict FTP access to a specific folder?

When creating an FTP account, enter the full path to the folder in the Directory field. For example, entering public_html/client-area restricts that account to only the client-area folder and its subdirectories. The user cannot navigate to parent directories or other folders outside their assigned path.

Need help with your FTP accounts or experiencing connection issues? Our support team is available 24/7 to assist you. Visit https://www.obhost.net/contact or email support@obhost.org for technical assistance.