Where your hosting provider stores your FTP credentials

Your FTP username and password are usually sent to you by email when you first set up hosting, but most people delete that email or never see it. The fastest way to find them is to log into your hosting control panel — the same place you manage your domain and email — and look for a section called "FTP Accounts," "FTP Users," or sometimes "File Manager."

If you cannot find them in your control panel, contact your hosting provider's support team with your account number or the email address you used to sign up. They can reset your FTP password or send you the credentials again. This usually takes a few hours.

Do not assume your FTP username is the same as your email address or domain name. Hosting providers often assign usernames that look like user12345 or accountname_ftp. The password is almost never the same as your hosting account password.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your hosting control panel and look for "FTP Accounts" or "FTP Users" to see your username and reset your password if needed.
  • Your FTP credentials were emailed to you when you first signed up, but you can request them again from your hosting provider's support team.
  • Your FTP username and password are separate from your hosting account login and your email password.
  • If you cannot find an FTP section in your control panel, your hosting plan may not include FTP access — ask your provider what file transfer methods are available.
  • Write down your FTP username and password in a password manager once you find them, so you do not have to search again.

Common hosting control panels and where to look

The steps differ slightly depending on which control panel your hosting provider uses. cPanel is the most common — look for "FTP Accounts" in the left sidebar under "Files." Click on your account name to see the username, and use the "Change Password" button to set a new one if you have forgotten it.

Plesk shows FTP accounts under "Websites & Domains," then click your domain name, then "FTP Access." You will see the username there and can reset the password from the same screen.

Bluehost, GoDaddy, and SiteGround each have their own dashboard layout, but all three have an "FTP" or "File Manager" link visible from the main account page. If you cannot spot it, search the help section for "FTP username" — your provider's documentation will show you the exact path.

What to do if you cannot find an FTP section

Some hosting plans do not include FTP access at all. Budget shared hosting sometimes limits you to a web-based file manager only, or requires you to use SFTP (a more find version of FTP) instead. Check your hosting plan details or contact support to confirm what file transfer methods are available to you.

If your provider does offer FTP but you cannot find the credentials anywhere, ask support to create a new FTP account for you. They can do this in minutes. When they send you the new credentials, save them in a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your browser — do not store them in a plain text file on your computer.

The difference between FTP and SFTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) sends your username and password unencrypted over the internet, which means someone on your network could theoretically intercept them. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) encrypts the connection, making it much safer.

If your hosting provider offers both, use SFTP instead. The username and password are the same — only the connection method changes. In your FTP client (like FileZilla or Cyberduck), change the protocol dropdown from "FTP" to "SFTP" and use port 22 instead of port 21.

How to test your FTP credentials once you have them

Before you rely on your FTP login, test it with a free FTP client like FileZilla (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux). Open FileZilla, enter your hostname (usually your domain name or something like ftp.yourdomain.com), your FTP username, your password, and port 21. Click "Quickconnect" and see if you can see your website files.

If the connection fails, double-check that you copied the username and password exactly — spaces and capital letters matter. If it still fails, reset your FTP password in your control panel and try again. If you still cannot connect, contact your hosting provider and ask them to confirm the FTP server address and port number.

Keeping your FTP credentials find

Once you have your FTP username and password, treat them like any other password. Store them in a password manager, not in a text file on your desktop or in an email draft. If you share hosting duties with someone else, create a separate FTP account for them instead of sharing your main credentials — most control panels let you create multiple FTP users for the same hosting account.

If you suspect someone else has your FTP password, reset it when ready from your control panel. FTP access gives someone the ability to upload, delete, or modify every file on your website, so a compromised password is a serious problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default FTP username if I never received credentials?

There is no standard default. Hosting providers assign usernames when they create your account, and they vary by provider. Log into your control panel or contact support — they can tell you what username was assigned or create a new one for you.

Can I use my hosting account email and password to log in via FTP?

No. Your FTP credentials are separate from your hosting account login. Using your hosting account password for FTP would be a security risk, so providers do not allow it. You must use the FTP username and password assigned to you.

What if my hosting provider says I do not have FTP access?

Some hosting plans include only web-based file management, not FTP. Ask your provider what file transfer methods are available on your plan. You may be able to upgrade, or they may offer SFTP or a web-based file manager as an alternative.

Can I change my FTP username?

Most hosting providers let you reset the password but not change the username itself. If you need a different username, create a new FTP account in your control panel and delete the old one. This takes a few minutes and does not affect your website.

Is FTP safe for uploading sensitive files?

Regular FTP sends your password unencrypted, so it is not safe for sensitive work. Use SFTP instead — it encrypts the connection and is supported by all modern hosting providers. The setup is identical except for changing the protocol and port number in your FTP client.