Why does my FTP fail to connect?

If you’re unable to connect via FTP, check the following common causes:

1. Firewall or router blocking port 21

Your local network, router, or firewall may be blocking FTP traffic on port 21. Check your firewall settings and ensure port 21 (FTP) is open. Alternatively, use SFTP on port 22 instead, which is more likely to pass through firewalls.

2. Incorrect hostname

If your domain was recently set up and DNS hasn’t propagated yet, use the server IP address provided in your New Account Information email instead of your domain name.

3. Incorrect username or password

Verify your cPanel credentials are correct by logging into cPanel directly. If you can log in to cPanel, use the same username and password for FTP.

4. IP temporarily blocked

Your IP address may have been temporarily blocked due to too many failed login attempts. This block is automatically removed after one hour. If you need it removed sooner, contact our support team with your public IP address.

Caution

We recommend using SFTP instead of FTP for all file transfers. SFTP encrypts your connection and credentials, and generally has fewer connectivity issues.