What this guide covers
The quickest way to connect to your HostBible hosting with FTP/FTPS
Creating additional FTP users in cPanel
Where to upload your website files (
public_html)Optional SFTP (when SSH is enabled)
Troubleshooting common connection and upload issues
Security best practices
Tip: For one-off edits, cPanel’s File Manager is faster. Use FTP/FTPS when you’re publishing or syncing lots of files.
Quick settings (copy/paste friendly)
FTPS (recommended)
Protocol: FTP over TLS (Explicit)
Host: your domain (e.g.
example.com) — if DNS isn’t pointed yet, use the server hostname from your HostBible welcome email or cPanel “General Information”Port: 21
Encryption: “Require Explicit TLS/SSL”
Transfer mode: Passive
Username: your cPanel username or an FTP account you create
Password: the matching password
SFTP (optional, if SSH is enabled on your plan)
Protocol: SFTP
Host: your domain or server hostname
Port: 22
Auth: password or SSH key (if configured)
Web root to publish a main site: /public_html
For addon domains: /public_html/addon-domain-folder (as shown when you created the addon domain).
Step 1 — Create (or locate) your FTP login in cPanel
Log in to cPanel.
Open FTP Accounts.
Either:
Use the default account (your cPanel username), or
Click Add FTP Account to create a limited user:
Log In: a friendly name (e.g.
studio)Domain: choose the domain
Password: set a strong password
Directory: set the user’s home (e.g.
public_htmlorpublic_html/client1)Quota: “Unlimited” or a size cap
Save. You’ll now see the new user listed.
Why create extra FTP users? Least-privilege access—hand a developer access only to a specific folder.
Step 2 — Connect from your computer
Open your preferred FTP client (any standard client works).
Create a new site / connection using the FTPS settings above.
Connect. The first time, your client may prompt to trust the TLS certificate—accept it.
On the right-hand pane (server), browse to
/public_html.Drag and drop your website files from your computer (left) to the server (right).
Publish order tip: Upload files first, then upload .htaccess and any caches last to avoid half-configured loads during deploys.
Common folders & what they’re for
/public_html– your main website’s document root (what the world sees)./public_ftp– legacy anonymous FTP area (usually not used)./mail– mail storage (don’t modify via FTP).Hidden files – e.g.
.htaccess,.user.ini. Turn on “Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)” in your client to view/edit.
Optional — Use SFTP
If your plan includes SSH (or you’ve enabled it), SFTP gives you a secure SSH-based file transfer:
Use Protocol: SFTP and Port: 22.
If you’ve uploaded an SSH key in cPanel → SSH Access, configure your client to use it.
SFTP is often more reliable for very large uploads.
Troubleshooting
“530 Login authentication failed”
Check the exact username (it’s
user@domainonly if you created it that way; otherwise it’s just the FTP username you set).Reset the password in cPanel → FTP Accounts.
Make sure the Directory hasn’t been deleted or moved.
“Can’t connect” / timeouts
Use Passive mode and Explicit TLS (not “plain FTP”).
Try the server hostname instead of your domain if DNS hasn’t propagated.
Ensure your local firewall allows port 21 (FTPS) or 22 (SFTP).
Some networks block FTP—try a different network or use SFTP.
Uploads seem to work but the site doesn’t change
Confirm you uploaded into
/public_html(or the correct addon domain folder), not the account root.Clear any application cache (e.g., WordPress cache) after uploading theme/plugins.
Check file permissions: folders 755, files 644.
“TLS handshake / certificate” warnings
Make sure the Host you connect to matches the certificate (your domain or the server hostname).
Ensure your site’s SSL is active; HostBible plans include free SSL—if newly issued, allow a few minutes.
Large files stall
Use SFTP (if available) or compress a folder locally to a
.zip, upload, then use cPanel → File Manager → Extract.
Security best practices
Always use encryption: FTPS or SFTP. Avoid plain FTP.
Create separate FTP users for contractors; restrict their Directory.
Rotate passwords and delete users you no longer need.
Keep your client updated to get the latest TLS fixes.
Turn on “Show Hidden Files” only when you need to edit dotfiles, then turn it off to avoid accidental edits.
FAQ
Where do I upload my website?
/public_html for your primary domain. For addon domains, upload to the folder shown in cPanel → Addon Domains.
Can I use SFTP?
Yes, if SSH is enabled for your account. Otherwise, use FTPS (Explicit TLS) on port 21.
What are my FTP credentials?
Your cPanel username/password work for the default FTP account. Any FTP Accounts you create will have their own username/password.
Do I need to change file permissions?
Normally no. Standard perms are 755 for folders and 644 for files.
I can connect but can’t see .htaccess.
Enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles) in your FTP client.
Summary
Use FTPS (Explicit TLS) on port 21 to connect, publish to /public_html, and prefer SFTP when SSH is available. Create limited FTP users for collaborators, and keep permissions at 644/755. If you run into errors, double-check usernames, passive mode, encryption, and the correct upload path.