What Is FTP A Beginners Guide to FTP for WordPress Users

You can perform a lot of tasks within your WordPress dashboard – but you cant do everything. Sometimes, you may need to make a change directly to one of your sites files. This might be to tighten security or add some custom code. A little research will tell you that File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the way to go, but what is FTP?In short, FTP enables you to connect directly to the files that make up your WordPress site. You can then edit, add, and delete information and code directly, without having to visit your dashboard. The applications of FTP are numerous, and it even simplifies some of your most common tasks.This guide will answer the question: What is FTP? Then, well teach you how to access your WordPress files using the FTP tool FileZilla. Lets get started! There are many reasons you may need to access your site this way. For example, you can use FTP to:Install plugins and themes directly, should you need it.Manually deactivate plugins and themes if you ever get locked out of your WordPress dashboard.Upload media files in bulk, rather than one at a time.Make changes to core WordPress files such as .htaccess, to implement customizations and extra security measures.Diagnose and fix common errors on your site, such as compatibility issues, internal server errors, and so on.Often, when you look for a tutorial on how to do something within WordPress or search for advice on fixing a specific problem, youll be directed to use FTP. So even if you dont have a specific use in mind, learning this now means youll be prepared when you do find yourself facing an FTP-related task.Introducing FileZillaTo actually use FTP, youll need whats known as an FTP client. This is a program that enables you to make a direct connection to the server where your websites files are stored.If youre just getting started, we suggest checking out FileZilla. This is a free, easy-to-use tool thats great for beginners. Its also recommended by WordPress itself, particularly because its open-source. The developers even offer lots of useful documentation to help you get started.How to use FTP to access your WordPress site (in four steps)You now know the answer to the question: What is FTP? Now its time to learn how to access your website. Well be using FileZilla for this tutorial, but the steps will be similar no matter what tool you select.Step 1: Back up your siteBefore you get started, its important to understand the risks inherent in using FTP. Youll be making permanent changes directly to your sites files, which means that if you arent careful you can make irreversible mistakes. Therefore, its crucial to make sure you have a recent backup in place, so you can restore your website if anything goes wrong.Step 2:  Install FileZillaOnce you have a backup of your site, install FileZilla by visiting the website and clicking on the button to download the client:Find and download the correct version for your computer, then run the .exe file to install it. After that , you can simply start up the client – no special configuration is required.Step 3: Connect to your host using FTPWhen you open up FileZilla, you should see a screen similar to this:There should be four empty fields near the top: Host, Username, Password, and Port. The last field will fill itself in automatically. The first three, however, represent your unique FTP credentials:In order to access your site using FTP, youll need your web hosts FTP address, as well as your personal FTP username and password.All this information is available through your hosting provider. How you find it will vary depending on the company. In general, youll need to log into your hosting control panel and find your credentials in your personal account information. Most hosts offer documentation that tells you exactly where to look. If not, your best bet is to contact them directly.Once you have your credentials, simply enter them into FileZilla and click on the Quickconnect button. Give it a few m oments to work. Soon, you should see a message letting you know the connection has been established:Its worth knowing that you dont have to re-enter your credentials every time you want to access your site. Instead, simply navigate to Server Reconnect, and FileZilla will log back into your host. Alternatively, click the drop-down arrow next to the Quickconnect button and select your server from there.Step 4: Manage Your WordPress FilesNow that FileZilla is connected to your web server, you should see files and folders in each of its four main quadrants:The two quadrants on the left display the files on your local computer, while the quadrants on the right show your websites files. To move files between the two locations, all you need to do is drag and drop them.On the right, you should see a folder named after your websites domain (although it could also be called public_html or www) – this is where all your sites data is stored. Opening it will reveal a few more folders:Mos t of the time, what youre looking for will be in the wp-content folder. For example, this folder contains sub-folders for your themes and plugins. This means you can open up your current theme to make changes, delete a theme, or install a new theme by copying and pasting it into your themes folder (or dragging it over from your computers files):You now know how to connect to your site using FTP and locate your websites files. If you spend some time exploring those files now, youll be well prepared whenever youre required to use FTP in the future!ConclusionPart of becoming an experienced WordPress user involves learning how the platform works behind the scenes. Thats where FTP comes in handy, since it enables you to work directly with the files that make up your site. Knowing how to access your site using FTP is a crucial skill for any WordPress site owner to have.In this post, we first answered the question: What is FTP? Then we introduced FileZilla  and showed you how to use it t o access your WordPress sites files. To recap, there are four major steps:Back up your site.Install FileZilla.Connect to your host using FTP.Manage your WordPress files.Do you have any questions about FTP and what you can do with it? Leave us a message in the comments section below! What is #FTP: a beginner's guide for #WordPress users