FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is simply the name for how files are transferred onto your hosting account. Your website consists of

1. a database which contains the text written on your pages and
2. lots of files which make it possible to retrieve that information and display it in the way it looks

Both of these items are located on your hosting account, on our server. You can use FTP to update the files on your hosting account.

Download SmartFTP

We recommend you use SmartFTP which is completely free. This is an FTP client and is essential for transferring files to your hosting account. Please download it here (choose the Windows option): SmartFTP DOWNLOAD. After download, install it and then follow these steps.

How to use FTP

You will need some FTP details before you proceed. You can use the same username and password that you use to log into cPanel with, or alternatively you can create a separate FTP account. This is useful if you want to give someone FTP access but you don't want to give them access to your entire cPanel

When you have your FTP details to hand, open your newly installed SmartFTP and go to File>Site Manager. Your screen will look slightly different to the following illustrations as we have recently changed the recommended FTP client:

You will then see the following screens

When you have finished, simply choose File>Exit.