Connecting with SFTP in FileZilla

FileZilla connects over SFTP as well as FTP. The only thing people usually get wrong is leaving the protocol set to FTP.

Steps

1. Open the Site Manager and create a new site.
2. Set Protocol to SFTP. This is the step that matters. Leaving it on FTP will fail or connect insecurely.
3. Enter the host. Just the address, with no sftp:// in front of it.
4. Set the port to 22, unless your host told you otherwise.
5. Enter your username and password, then connect.

If you use a key instead of a password

Set Logon Type to Key file and point FileZilla at your private key. If the key was made with a passphrase you will be asked for it on connection.

Common problems

• Connection times out. Wrong port, or your host restricts SFTP to certain IP addresses.
• Login refused. Check for a space at the end of a pasted password.
• Connects but the folder looks empty. You are probably above the web root. Look for a folder named public_html, htdocs or www.
• An unknown host key warning on first connection. Normal. Accept it once and FileZilla remembers.