Upload Files to Cloudways with SFTP from the Browser

Cloudways is a managed-VPS platform: your site runs on a cloud server that the platform administers for you. It doesn't provide a cPanel-style shared-FTP setup — the supported way to move files is SFTP, using the credentials Cloudways generates for your server. FilePort Pro runs in the browser, so with those details in hand you can upload straight from a web page — no software to install and no desktop client to configure.

Connect Now — upload to Cloudways

Cloudways is SFTP-first

Cloudways doesn't offer the kind of plain FTP service shared hosts provide. Your site runs on a managed VPS, and the platform's file-transfer path is SFTP over SSH on port 22 — the same connection you'd use to SSH in. The platform does include a built-in File Manager for quick jobs, but for a theme, a site backup, or a whole folder of assets, SFTP from a proper client is faster and more flexible. Because the server is administered by Cloudways, the SSH/SFTP login it needs is also managed in the platform — you don't configure a server yourself or install an FTP daemon; you use the credentials the dashboard hands you. What you connect to is a normal SSH server, so SFTP behaves exactly as it does anywhere else: you get a file browser over the encrypted connection, with the permissions of the system user the platform created. That user is scoped to your server, and Cloudways manages the underlying key material for its own access, so there's nothing for you to generate, upload, or configure — the username and password from the dashboard are the whole setup.

Find your Cloudways SFTP credentials

Everything you need to connect lives in the Cloudways platform. The exact tab label can vary, so confirm what yours shows, but the general path is:

1. Log in to the Cloudways platform and open the server you want to reach.
2. Find the SSH/SFTP area — on typical accounts this sits in the server's access details, often labelled something like SSH/SFTP or Master Credentials; the exact name can vary, so confirm what yours shows.
3. Note the server's public IP — it's also shown on the server's main details page.
4. Note the username and password Cloudways generated for the system user. The platform can regenerate or reset this password if you lose it.

Because Cloudways authenticates SFTP with a username and password by default, you don't need to generate any keys to connect from the browser — the dashboard values are all you need. Connect to your server's public IP (or a domain pointing to it) on port 22 with that username and password. The public IP stays the same for the life of the server, and if you'd rather connect by hostname than by IP, you can attach a domain and point it at the server from the platform. If the auto-generated password is hard to type or got lost, the same area usually lets you regenerate it — just know that anything connected with the old password will need to reconnect once you do.

Connect to Cloudways with FilePort Pro

With your IP, username, and password in hand, connecting is quick:

1. Open FilePort Pro — it lives in the browser, so there's nothing to install.
2. Choose SFTP; host is your server's public IP (or a domain pointing to it), and port 22.
3. Enter the username and password from the Cloudways dashboard.
4. Click Connect — you land in the file list and can browse folders with breadcrumbs, upload files by clicking or dragging them in, and download what you need, including whole folders as a ZIP archive.

One honest note: plain FTP is generally not the intended path on Cloudways, so use SFTP here — it's encrypted and it's what the platform's credentials are for. For a plain-FTP host elsewhere, FilePort Pro's web FTP client in your browser covers that too.

Where uploaded files go

The folders you see over SFTP are the server's filesystem, where your application files live. On a Cloudways-style setup your site is typically served from a public directory inside the application's folder (often a public_html-style directory), but the exact layout can vary by application, so confirm the path against the platform's File Manager rather than guessing. The safe move is to open the File Manager once first and see exactly where your theme, plugins, or static assets live, then navigate to the same place over SFTP and upload there. Once you know which folder your site uses, uploading with SFTP is straightforward and shows visible progress, with drag-and-drop convenience.

A note on Cloudways SFTP security

Because FilePort Pro relays your connection, your Cloudways credentials pass through our server to reach yours — never "credentials never leave your browser." They're held in memory only for the active session, never stored, never logged, and the session ends when you disconnect or after about 15 minutes of inactivity. Since SFTP is the intended path on Cloudways, your login and files stay encrypted end to end in transit. See our security page for how FilePort Pro handles your credentials.

Frequently asked questions

Does Cloudways have an FTP server?

Cloudways doesn't offer the kind of plain FTP service shared hosts provide. Your site runs on a managed VPS, and the supported way to move files is SFTP over SSH on port 22 using the credentials the platform gives you.

How do I find my Cloudways SFTP credentials?

Log in to the Cloudways platform and open the server you want to reach. Find the SSH/SFTP area — often labelled something like SSH/SFTP or Master Credentials, though the exact tab name can vary, so confirm what yours shows — and note the server's public IP, the system username, and the password shown there. You can reset the password from the same area if needed.

What port does Cloudways SFTP use?

SFTP on Cloudways runs over SSH on port 22, the standard SFTP port. Connect to your server's public IP (or a domain pointing to it) with that port and your dashboard credentials.

Can I upload to Cloudways without installing software?

Yes. FilePort Pro runs in the browser, so with your Cloudways server IP, username, and password you can browse folders and upload files straight from a web page — nothing to install and no terminal needed.

More host guides

Cloudways is a managed-VPS platform, but the same connect-and-upload ideas apply across hosts. See the guide for your setup:

• GoDaddy FTP & SFTP — where to find credentials
• Bluehost FTP & SFTP — how to upload files
• Hostinger SFTP & FTP — hPanel credentials
• SiteGround SFTP & FTP — set up in Site Tools
• DreamHost SFTP & FTP — connect from the browser
• cPanel FTP — upload without the File Manager
• Plesk FTP & SFTP — access & find credentials
• DigitalOcean SFTP — upload files to a Droplet
• AWS Lightsail SFTP — upload from the browser
• AWS EC2 SFTP — connect from the browser
• WordPress FTP — upload themes and plugins
• FTP connection errors — why they happen and how to fix them
• SFTP connection errors — host keys, publickey, refused, and timeouts
• FileZilla alternatives — free desktop and no-install options

For more on browser-based transfers, see the web SFTP client. Questions about what we store? Read the privacy policy or the security page.

Get started — upload to Cloudways from your browser

No install, no sign-up, no credentials stored. Connect Now — upload to Cloudways

Prefer to work over SFTP for an encrypted transfer? Use SFTP. Questions about what we store? Read the privacy policy.