{"id":1973,"date":"2025-06-18T14:00:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T14:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/?p=1973"},"modified":"2025-06-26T11:12:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T11:12:57","slug":"use-sftp-to-connect-a-cpanel-account","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/use-sftp-to-connect-a-cpanel-account\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use SFTP to Connect a cPanel Account?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this guide, you\u2019ll learn how to use SFTP to connect a cPanel account<\/strong> using your cPanel login credentials. This tutorial is ideal for developers, webmasters, and even beginners who prefer secure file transfers without compromising ease of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When managing your website’s backend, security is non-negotiable. One of the best ways to safely transfer files is by using SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)<\/strong>. Unlike traditional FTP, SFTP encrypts your connection \u2014 protecting your sensitive credentials and files during transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need help managing files inside cPanel<\/a>? Check out our How to Upload a File Using File Manager<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step of: How to Use SFTP to Connect a cPanel Account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Creating SSH Access Keys in cPanel Made Easy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. Log in to Your cPanel Account<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First, access your cPanel dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter your username and password<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigate to https:\/\/yourdomain.com\/cpanel<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Go to the SSH<\/strong>\u00a0Icon inside the\u00a0Security<\/strong>\u00a0section.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Go<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Click on\u00a0Manage SSH Keys\u00a0<\/strong>>> Generate a New Key.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Click<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Generate<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Keep the default key name unchanged, enter your password, and click the “Generate Key” button.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"click<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Next, to allow this key to access your cPanel account, click the “Manage” button, then select the “Authorize” option to activate it.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"access<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Download your private key by clicking the “View\/Download” button. Alternatively, you can find and download it from the home\/.ssh<\/code> directory.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Download<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Note:<\/strong> Make sure to download and store the private key file in a secure location. It’s important that no one else has access to this sensitive file for your account\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Enable SFTP Access for the FTP Account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. Open FileZilla and click on Edit >> Setting<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Open<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Select SFTP as the connection type, click on “Add Key File,” and import your .ppk<\/code> file. If you encounter any issues during import, simply rename the file extension to .ppk<\/code> and try again.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Select<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Once imported successfully, you\u2019ll be able to view the key file in FileZilla, as shown in the screenshot below.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"able<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, connect to your server using your FTP account through the SFTP protocol for a secure file transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Q1: What\u2019s the difference between FTP and SFTP?<\/strong>
SFTP uses a secure, encrypted connection via SSH. FTP transfers files in plain text, making it vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2: Can I use SFTP with an addon FTP account?<\/strong>
Only if SSH access is enabled for that user. By default, only the main cPanel user has SFTP access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3: What port is used for SFTP?<\/strong>
Port 22<\/strong> is the default SFTP port, unlike FTP which uses port 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now you know exactly how to use SFTP to connect a cPanel account<\/strong> \u2014 securely and reliably. It\u2019s a great way to manage your files without logging into the browser-based File Manager each time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want more cPanel tutorials like this one? Visit the Hostrago Knowledge Base<\/a> for complete how-tos, security tips, and hosting walkthroughs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this guide, you\u2019ll learn how to use SFTP to connect a cPanel account using your cPanel login credentials. This tutorial is ideal for developers,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[333,332,185,331,330],"class_list":["post-1973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cpanel","tag-connect-cpanel-using-sftp","tag-cpanel-sftp","tag-hostrago-tutorial","tag-secure-ftp","tag-sftp-connection"],"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1973"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1984,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1973\/revisions\/1984"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hostrago.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}