How to Perform a Web Server Upload with Filezilla FTP Client

To upload files to a web server with FileZilla, enter your host, username, and password in the Quickconnect bar and click Quickconnect. Then open the folder with your files in the left (local) pane, open the destination folder in the right (server) pane, and drag the files from left to right.

You’ll need the FTP or SFTP login details from your web host or whoever runs the server. Any kind of file works, including web pages, images, PDFs, and XML files. The steps below follow the official FileZilla Client tutorial.

If you need to host the receiving server yourself, our Windows 11 FTP server guide covers TLS, account access, and transfer testing.

In this article:

• Before You Start
• Step 1: Connect With Quickconnect
• Step 2: Find Your Files and the Destination Folder
• Step 3: Upload the Files
• Save the Server in Site Manager
• If the Upload Doesn’t Work
• Keep Your FTP Login Safe
• Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

• Install FileZilla Client from the official FileZilla download page.
• Get your hostname, username, password, and any port or protocol (FTP, SFTP, or FTPS) from your host.
• Find out which folder on the server holds your website files. Hosts name it differently, so ask if you’re not sure.

Step 1: Connect With Quickconnect

1. Open FileZilla.
2. Type the hostname in the Host field, such as ftp.yoursite.com.
3. Type your username in the Username field and your password in the Password field.
4. Leave Port empty unless your login details list a port.
5. Click Quickconnect.

If your host says to use SFTP or FTPS, type the hostname as sftp://hostname or ftps://hostname, as the FileZilla tutorial explains. Use the encrypted protocol your server supports whenever you can.

Result: The right side of the window changes from “Not connected to any server” to a list of the server’s files and folders. The message log near the top shows the connection steps.

Step 2: Find Your Files and the Destination Folder

FileZilla shows two columns. The left column (the local pane) is your computer, and the right column (the server pane) is the server. Each has a folder tree at the top and the selected folder’s contents below it.

1. In the left pane, open the folder that holds the files you want to upload.
2. In the right pane, open the folder on the server where the files should go.

Result: Your files are listed on the left, and the destination folder’s contents are listed on the right.

Step 3: Upload the Files

1. Select the files or folders in the lower left pane.
2. Drag them into the lower right pane.

You can also right-click files or folders in the local pane and select Upload, or double-click a single file. Double-clicking doesn’t work for folders.

Result: The files appear briefly in the transfer queue at the bottom of the window, then show up in the server listing on the right once they finish uploading.

If a file with the same name is already on the server, FileZilla asks by default what to do, such as overwrite, rename, or skip.

Save the Server in Site Manager

So you don’t have to retype your login next time:

1. While connected, open the File menu and select Copy current connection to Site Manager.
2. Type a name you’ll recognize, such as “My website FTP.”
3. Click OK.

Result: Next time, open Site Manager, select the server, and click Connect.

If the Upload Doesn’t Work

• Can’t connect: Check the hostname, username, and password, and confirm the protocol and port with your host.
• Files don’t appear on the site: Make sure you uploaded to the folder your host uses for public web files.
• Transfer failed: Look at the message log and the transfer queue at the bottom of the window for the error, then try again.

Keep Your FTP Login Safe

Keep your FTP login private, especially if it’s the main account for the server. Anyone with those details could upload or delete files on your site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I download FileZilla?

From the official FileZilla download page at filezilla-project.org. Avoid copies from other download sites.

What should I put in the Port field?

Leave it blank unless your login information lists a specific port.

Can I download files from the server too?

Yes. Drag files from the right (server) pane to the left (local) pane.

Related: How to Upload Large Files to SkyDrive. Once your files are live, you can test how fast the page loads with Lighthouse in Chrome.