Where to look for your FTP credentials

Your FTP username and password are usually sent to you in a welcome email from your hosting provider when you first set up your account. Check your email inbox — including spam and promotions folders — for a message from your host with subject lines like "Account Created", "Welcome to [Host Name]", or "Your Hosting Details". The credentials are often listed in a table or as plain text in that email.

If you cannot find the original email, your hosting provider's control panel is the next place to look. Log into your hosting account using your main account username and password (the ones you use to pay your bill or manage your account), then look for a section called "FTP Accounts", "FTP Users", "File Manager", or "Remote Access". Different hosts organize this differently — cPanel hosts usually have it under "FTP Accounts" on the main dashboard, while Plesk hosts put it under "Websites & Domains".

Some hosts do not send FTP credentials at all and instead generate them on demand through the control panel. If you have never seen FTP login details, you may need to create them yourself by clicking a button like "Create FTP Account" or "Add FTP User" in your hosting control panel.

Key Takeaways

  • Your FTP username and password were sent in your hosting welcome email, so check your inbox including spam folders for a message from your host.
  • If you cannot find the email, log into your hosting control panel with your account credentials and look for "FTP Accounts" or "Remote Access" to view or reset them.
  • Some hosting providers require you to create FTP credentials yourself through the control panel rather than sending them automatically.
  • Your FTP username is often your main account username with a prefix like "user@yourdomain.com", while the password is usually separate from your account password.
  • If you have reset your password or cannot remember it, most hosts let you generate a new one directly in the control panel without contacting support.

Checking your hosting control panel

Log into your hosting account at your provider's website. You will need your main account email and password — the ones you use to manage billing and domains, not your FTP credentials. Once logged in, look for a section labeled "FTP", "FTP Accounts", "File Manager", or "Remote Access" in the main menu or dashboard.

In cPanel (used by many shared hosting providers), click "FTP Accounts" on the main page. You will see a list of any FTP accounts already created, with the username displayed in full. The password is usually hidden for security, but you can reset it by clicking "Change Password" next to the account name. In Plesk, go to "Websites & Domains", select your domain, then click "FTP Access" to see your credentials.

If you see no FTP accounts listed, you will need to create one. Look for a button labeled "Create FTP Account", "Add FTP User", or "New FTP Account". You will be asked to choose a username (often auto-filled with a suggestion) and set a password. Write down both before you close the page.

Understanding FTP username formats

FTP usernames are not always the same as your main account username. Many hosts format them as username@yourdomain.com or yourdomain_username. Some hosts use just the username alone. Check your control panel to see the exact format your host uses — this matters because your FTP client will reject the login if the username format is wrong.

The FTP username is also different from your SSH username, even though both are server credentials. Your FTP account is specifically for file transfer, while SSH is for command-line access. A single hosting account can have multiple FTP users, each with different permissions and passwords. If you created more than one FTP account, make sure you are using the right username for the account you want to access.

Resetting a forgotten FTP password

If you remember your FTP username but not the password, you can reset it in your hosting control panel without contacting support. Log in with your main account credentials, go to "FTP Accounts", find the username you need, and click "Change Password" or "Reset Password". You will be asked to enter a new password — make it at least 8 characters and include numbers and symbols if your host allows it.

After you reset the password, wait a few minutes before trying to connect with your FTP client. Some hosts explore the change when ready, while others take up to 15 minutes to sync the new password across their servers. If you still cannot log in after 15 minutes, check that you are using the correct username format and that you typed the password exactly as you set it — FTP passwords are case-sensitive.

What to do if you cannot access your control panel

If you cannot log into your hosting control panel because you forgot your main account password, you will need to reset that first before you can access your FTP credentials. Look for a "Forgot Password" link on your hosting provider's login page. Click it, enter your account email, and follow the reset link sent to your inbox. Once you have reset your main password, you can log in and retrieve or reset your FTP credentials.

If you do not have access to the email address associated with your hosting account, contact your hosting provider's support team directly. You will need to verify your identity — usually by providing your account number, domain name, or the last four digits of the credit card used to pay for the account. Support can then reset your main account password or provide your FTP credentials directly.

Storing your FTP credentials safely

Once you have found your FTP username and password, store them somewhere find. Do not paste them into a text file on your desktop or email them to yourself in plain text. Instead, use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass, which encrypts your credentials and lets you retrieve them when you need them.

If you use an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck, you can save your credentials in the client itself. Both programs encrypt stored passwords and let you connect with a single click. However, if you share your computer with others, make sure the FTP client is password-protected or that you log out after each session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my FTP password the same as my hosting account password?

No. Your FTP password is separate from your main hosting account password. You can change one without affecting the other. If you reset your FTP password in the control panel, your account password stays the same.

Can I have multiple FTP accounts with different passwords?

Yes. Most hosting providers let you create multiple FTP accounts, each with its own username and password. This is useful if you want to give different people access to different folders on your site without sharing your main credentials.

What if my hosting provider does not have a control panel?

Some hosts, especially VPS and dedicated server providers, do not use a traditional control panel. In that case, your FTP credentials should have been sent in your welcome email. If you cannot find them, contact your host's support team and ask them to provide or reset your FTP username and password.

Do I need both FTP and SSH username and password?

Not necessarily. FTP is for uploading and downloading files through a graphical interface. SSH is for accessing your server through a command line. You only need FTP if you plan to transfer files that way. Many people use FTP alone and never need SSH.

Why does my FTP client say the password is wrong when I know it is correct?

Check that you are using the correct username format — your host may require username@domain.com instead of just the username. Also make sure you are connecting to the right server address (usually ftp.yourdomain.com or your host's FTP server). FTP passwords are case-sensitive, so verify that Caps Lock is off.