How to Access My WordPress on FTP

1. Download and install an FTP client, such as 'FileZilla,' 'AceFTP' or 'SmartFTP' (see Resources).
2. Launch the FTP client you installed. Type your FTP address in the provided text field. Typically your ftp address is the same as your domain name or your domain name preceded by 'ftp' instead of 'www.' For example, the domain name 'www.sample.com' might use the FTP address 'ftp.sample.com.'

3. Type your FTP username and password into the provided text fields.
4. Click the 'Connect' or 'Quickconnect' button to log into your FTP hosting account.
5. Double-click your Web content folder (the folder that contains your home page), if needed, in the 'hosting server' or 'remote' pane. Your computer contents are listed in the 'local' pane.
6. Double-click the folder containing the WordPress installation files and folders, if needed. The primary WordPress directory contains the PHP files that display content on the website.
7. Double-click the 'wp-admin' folder in the hosting server pane to access the files that control the administrative area of the WordPress installation.
8. Double-click the 'wp-content' folder to access the plugin and themes directories, to which you can upload the WordPress plugins and new theme templates.
9. Double-click the 'wp-includes' folder to access the function and scripting files for the WordPress installation.
10. Drag and drop files to the hosting server pane from the local pane to upload files from your computer to the WordPress directories. Drag and drop file to the local pane from the hosting server pane to download files to your computer for editing.
11. Right-click on folders in the hosting server pane and click 'Properties' or 'File Permissions' to set the permissions for folders. This determines whether users can read, write to or execute (run) the files within the folder.
12. Close the FTP client to disconnect from your hosting account and WordPress installation folders when finished.