FTP (File Transfer Protocol) lets you upload, download, and manage files on your hosting account using a desktop application. FileZilla is the most popular free FTP client available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
When to Use FTP
- Uploading website files — HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and other assets
- Bulk file transfers — Faster and more reliable than cPanel File Manager for large uploads
- Editing files — Download, edit locally, and re-upload
- Backups — Download a full copy of your website files to your computer
- Migrating websites — Transfer files from one hosting to another
Prerequisites
- An active Cynet hosting plan
- Your cPanel username and password (from your welcome email)
- FileZilla installed on your computer
Step 1: Download and Install FileZilla
- Go to filezilla-project.org
- Click Download FileZilla Client
- Choose the version for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
- Install the application with default settings
Important: Download the FileZilla Client (not the Server). If prompted for a bundled software offer during installation, click Decline.
Step 2: Gather Your FTP Credentials
You need the following details to connect:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Host / Server | yourdomain.com or your server IP address |
| Username | Your cPanel username |
| Password | Your cPanel password |
| Port | 21 (FTP) or 22 (SFTP) |
Where to Find These
- Welcome email: Your cPanel username, password, and server IP were included in the account creation email
- Client area: Log in to manage.cynet.com.my → My Services → Web Hosting → Manage — your server details are listed on the management page
- cPanel sidebar: Log in to cPanel → look at the right sidebar under "General Information" for the server IP and username
Step 3: Connect Using Quickconnect
The fastest way to connect:
- Open FileZilla
- At the top of the window, you'll see the Quickconnect bar with four fields:
yourdomain.com or your server IP - Username: Enter your cPanel username - Password: Enter your cPanel password - Port: Enter 21 for FTP or 22 for SFTP
- Click Quickconnect
- Left panel: Your local computer files
- Right panel: Your hosting server files
- Top panel: Connection status and transfer log
- Bottom panel: File transfer queue
Step 4: Navigate to Your Website Folder
Once connected, on the right panel (remote site):
- Navigate to the
/publichtmlfolder — this is your main website's document root - For addon domains, navigate to their specific document root (e.g.,
/publichtml/anotherdomain.com) - For subdomains, navigate to their folder (e.g.,
/public_html/blog)
Step 5: Upload Files
To upload files from your computer to the server:
- In the left panel, navigate to the folder on your computer containing the files
- In the right panel, navigate to the destination folder on the server
- Drag and drop files from the left panel to the right panel
- Or right-click files on the left → Upload
Step 6: Download Files
To download files from the server to your computer:
- In the right panel, find the files you want to download
- Drag and drop them to the left panel
- Or right-click files on the right → Download
Saving Your Connection (Site Manager)
To avoid entering credentials every time:
- Go to File → Site Manager (or press
Ctrl+S) - Click New Site and give it a name (e.g., "Cynet Hosting")
- Fill in the connection details:
yourdomain.com - Port: 21 (FTP) or 22 (SFTP) - Logon Type: Normal - User: Your cPanel username - Password: Your cPanel password
- Click Connect to save and connect
FTP vs SFTP — Which to Use?
| Feature | FTP (Port 21) | SFTP (Port 22) |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | ❌ Unencrypted (or FTPS with TLS) | ✅ Fully encrypted via SSH |
| Security | Basic | Higher |
| Speed | Slightly faster | Slightly slower |
| Firewall-friendly | May need passive mode | Works through most firewalls |
| Recommended | For internal/trusted networks | For all connections (recommended) |
Recommendation: Use SFTP (port 22) whenever possible for a secure, encrypted connection.
Common File Operations
Edit a File
- Right-click the file on the server → View/Edit
- FileZilla opens it in your default text editor
- Make changes → Save → FileZilla prompts to re-upload
Delete Files
Right-click the file or folder on the server → Delete. Be careful — deletions are permanent.
Set File Permissions
- Right-click a file or folder on the server → File Permissions
- Enter the numeric value (e.g.,
644for files,755for folders) - Click OK
Troubleshooting
"Connection refused" or "Could not connect to server"
- Verify the host and port are correct
- Try using the server IP address instead of the domain name
- Ensure your hosting account is active (not suspended)
- Try switching between port
21(FTP) and port22(SFTP)
"Authentication failed" or "Wrong password"
- cPanel credentials are case-sensitive
- Copy-paste from your welcome email to avoid typos
- Try logging in to cPanel via browser first to confirm credentials work
- Reset your cPanel password if needed
"Connection timed out"
- Your IP may be blocked by the server firewall after too many failed login attempts — contact Cynet support to unblock
- Check your internet connection
- Try using SFTP (port 22) instead of FTP (port 21)
- Disable your local firewall or VPN temporarily to test
Slow transfer speeds
- Use binary transfer mode (Transfer → Transfer Type → Binary) for non-text files
- Reduce the number of simultaneous transfers: Edit → Settings → Transfers → set maximum to 2–4
- Large numbers of small files transfer slower than fewer large files — consider zipping them first
"Failed to retrieve directory listing"
- Switch to passive mode: Edit → Settings → FTP → Transfer Mode → Passive
- Or try SFTP (port 22) which doesn't have active/passive mode issues