---
title: Uploading Files to Web Site with FTP
description: "The acronym FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Transferring files to and from your web site will require an FTP client. For Lansdowne servers, our technicians recommend using **WinSCP** for Windows and **Cyberduck** for Mac. The software can be downloaded…"
url: "https://www.1000island.net/docs/uploading-files-to-web-site-with-ftp/"
updated: "2026-04-15"
category: Web Hosting
---

# Uploading Files to Web Site with FTP

The acronym FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Transferring files to and from your web site will require an FTP client.

For Lansdowne servers, our technicians recommend using **WinSCP** for Windows and **Cyberduck** for Mac. The software can be downloaded from the following links:

- **WinSCP –**[https://winscp.net/eng/download.php](https://winscp.net/eng/download.php)
- **Cyberduck –**[https://cyberduck.io/?l=en](https://cyberduck.io/?l=en)

Online Guides for using the software can be found here:

- Guides to Using WinSCP – [https://winscp.net/eng/docs/guides](https://winscp.net/eng/docs/guides)
- WinSCP F.A.Q. – [https://winscp.net/eng/docs/faq](https://winscp.net/eng/docs/faq)
- Cyberduck Help – [https://help.cyberduck.io/](https://help.cyberduck.io/)

**Connecting to FTP server**

**Before Starting**

Before using the software, you will need to know some information about your web site.

- Host name of the server (eg. ftp.domain.ext)
- Protocol the server supports (Lansdowne servers support FTP, and not SFTP, FTPS, etc.)
- FTP account username
- FTP account password

**Connecting For the First Time**

Start WinSCP by double-clicking the icon on your desktop.

![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-icon.png)

The Login Dialog will appear. On the dialog:

Select your *File protocol*. Select *FTP* from the drop down.
![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-protocol.png)
Enter your host name to *Host name* field, username to *User name* and password to *Password.*The *Port number* should be 21.
*![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-settings02.png)*
Click the Advanced button and select **Advanced** from the drop down.
**![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-advanced.png)**
Click **Connection** from the left column, uncheck *Passive mode*, and then click **OK
![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-connection-passive.png)**
Click the **Save** button. You may want to check *Save password* so you do not need to type it in every time you want to connect. Click **OK**.
![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-settings03.png)
Press *Login* to connect.
![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-login.png)

**Connecting After First Time Setup**

Select your site from left column and click ***Login*** to connect
.![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-settings04.png)
**Upload files to FTP Server**

Once connected to your FTP server, you will see content of the default remote directory (typically a home directory of your account) in the [remote file panel](https://winscp.net/eng/docs/ui_file_panel) located on the right half of screen.

Your web site files are located in the *httpdocs* folder. You will need to double-click the folder to [navigate there first](https://winscp.net/eng/docs/task_navigate) in order to upload the files to that directory.

![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-httpdocs.png)

Your local files are located on the left half of the screen. You will need to navigate to the folder containing the web site files you are uploading.

Now you can simply drag the local files and drop them on remote file panel. By default [transfer settings dialog](https://winscp.net/eng/docs/ui_copy) will appear. Typically you do not want to change any settings, so just press *Copy*.

Uploading will proceed. Once it finishes, you will see uploaded file in remote file panel.

![](https://nexicom.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ftp-winscp-dragndrop.png)