Set up FTP or SFTP with FileZilla

FTP and SFTP let you transfer files between your computer and your CanSpace hosting account. They're useful for uploading large numbers of files, working with a designer or developer, or making bulk edits faster than the cPanel File Manager allows.

What you'll need

• Your cPanel username and password (from your New Account Information email or set in cPanel → Password & Security).
• Your server hostname (e.g. eos.canspace.ca) — also in your welcome email.
• An FTP/SFTP client. We recommend FileZilla — it's free, cross-platform, and handles both protocols.

Install FileZilla

1. Go to filezilla-project.org.
2. Download the FileZilla Client (not Server) for your operating system.
3. Install and open it.

Connect via SFTP (recommended)

1. Open FileZilla.

2. Go to File → Site Manager (or press Ctrl+S / Cmd+S).

3. Click New Site and give it a name (e.g. "CanSpace - yourdomain.com").

4. Fill in the connection details:

   • Protocol: SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol
   • Host: your server hostname (e.g. eos.canspace.ca)
   • Port: 5622
   • Logon Type: Normal
   • User: your cPanel username
   • Password: your cPanel password
5. Click Connect.
6. The first time you connect, FileZilla shows the server's host key fingerprint — accept it to continue.

You're in. The right pane shows your server's home directory; the left pane shows your local computer.

Connect via FTP

Same process as SFTP, but:

• Protocol: FTP - File Transfer Protocol
• Encryption: Use explicit FTP over TLS if available
• Port: 921 (NOT the standard port 21)
• Everything else: same as SFTP

Our FTP server uses TLS encryption automatically when you choose "Use explicit FTP over TLS" — that gets you most of the benefits of SFTP without needing SSH access.

Upload and download files

1. In FileZilla's left pane, navigate to a folder on your computer.
2. In the right pane, navigate to a folder on the server. public_html/ is your website's root; addon domains live in their own subfolders.
3. To upload: drag files from the left pane to the right (or right-click → Upload).
4. To download: drag files from the right pane to the left (or right-click → Download).

FileZilla shows the transfer queue at the bottom. Successful files move to the bottom log; failed files go to the "Failed transfers" tab.

File permissions (optional)

You sometimes need to change file permissions — for example, after uploading scripts that need to be executable, or fixing files that have been set wrong. Right-click any file or folder in the right pane → File permissions.

Standard permissions on shared hosting:

• Files: 644 (owner read/write, others read)
• Folders: 755 (owner read/write/execute, others read/execute)
• Sensitive files like wp-config.php: 600 or 640

Never set permissions to 777 — it lets anyone on the server read, write, and execute the file. Some bad guides recommend it; it's a security risk.

Common issues

"Connection timed out"

Usually one of:

• Your IP is firewalled by CSF after failed login attempts. See Unblock your IP.
• You're using port 21 instead of 921 (we don't run FTP on the default port).
• Your local network blocks outbound connections to non-standard ports (corporate networks often do).

"Authentication failed"

Wrong username or password. Test the same credentials in cPanel — if they work there but not in FileZilla, double-check that you typed them exactly (no leading/trailing spaces).

"Could not retrieve directory listing" (FTP only)

Switch to Passive mode in FileZilla → Site Manager → Transfer Settings → Transfer mode: Passive. Active mode rarely works through home routers.

Slow uploads

FileZilla uploads one file at a time by default. Speed it up:

1. FileZilla → Edit → Settings → Transfers.
2. Set Maximum simultaneous transfers to 4 or 6.

FTP accounts for developers

If you want to give a developer FTP access without sharing your main cPanel password, create a separate FTP account scoped to a specific folder:

1. cPanel → FTP Accounts.
2. Fill in a username (their domain login becomes [email protected]).
3. Set a strong password.
4. Set the directory — restrict them to a project folder if you want.
5. Click Create FTP Account.

Send them the username, password, hostname, and port. They connect just like you do.

Related articles

• cPanel Files section
• Enable SSH and connect from your computer
• Unblock your IP from the firewall

Trouble connecting via FTP / SFTP? Open a support ticket