Set Up SiteGround SFTP in Site Tools and Connect

SiteGround runs its own control panel called Site Tools, and it supports both FTP and SFTP for getting files onto your site. FilePort Pro runs in the browser, so once you've set up your SiteGround FTP user you can upload files straight from a web page — no software to install and no desktop client to configure.

Connect Now — access SiteGround files

SiteGround uses Site Tools, not cPanel

SiteGround doesn't hand you a cPanel. On current plans the control panel is Site Tools, where you manage files, databases, email, and your FTP and SFTP access all in one place. The wording and layout differ from cPanel, so if you're looking for familiar cPanel sections you won't find them — instead you'll work in Site Tools. The part that matters for file transfer is the FTP / SFTP users area, where SiteGround shows your site's hostname and username and lets you set or reset a password. Because the exact path and labels can vary by account, confirm what your own Site Tools shows before you start.

FTP or SFTP — which to use on SiteGround

SiteGround supports both FTP and SFTP, and it recommends SFTP for good reason. SFTP runs inside an encrypted SSH connection (normally on port 22), so your username, password, and files are protected in transit. Plain FTP (on port 21) sends your password and data in cleartext by protocol design, so it's less safe and SiteGround discourages it in favour of SFTP. Because FilePort Pro relays your connection, your credentials pass through our server to reach yours, as with any hosted client. The connection between your browser and FilePort Pro is served over HTTPS, and your SiteGround credentials are held in memory only for the active session — they're never stored or logged.

Set up an FTP/SFTP user in Site Tools

To connect you need a user with FTP or SFTP access enabled on your site. The exact label and location can vary, so confirm what yours shows, but the general steps are:

1. Sign in to the SiteGround Client Area and open Site Tools for the website you want to reach.
2. Find the FTP / SFTP users area — on many accounts this sits under Devs or a users/security section; the exact label varies, so look for where FTP or SFTP access is managed if you don't see it immediately.
3. Add a user or check the existing one. SiteGround shows your site's SFTP and FTP hostname (usually your domain) and username, and lets you set or reset the password.
4. Confirm the port shown. SFTP is typically port 22; use whatever host and port Site Tools displays for your site.

Connect to SiteGround with FilePort Pro

With your host, 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 (port 22) for an encrypted connection, or FTP (port 21) if you only have plain FTP.
3. Enter the host, username, and password exactly as Site Tools shows them.
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: if you connect over plain FTP, your password travels unencrypted by protocol design. FilePort Pro warns you before making a plain-FTP connection and recommends SFTP whenever your server supports it. If you only need plain FTP, the free browser-based FTP client covers that too.

Upload files to your SiteGround website

Your website's public files belong in your site's document root — the folder visitors hit when they load your domain. SiteGround's own File Manager inside Site Tools can do the job, but for an archive, a theme, or a folder of assets a dedicated FTP or SFTP client is usually faster and more reliable: you connect directly, navigate to the right folder, and drag files in with visible progress. If you're not certain which folder is your site's root on your specific account, confirm it against the folders shown in Site Tools before placing files.

A note on SiteGround SFTP security

Because FilePort Pro relays your connection, your SiteGround 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 SiteGround recommends SFTP, prefer it over plain FTP so your login and files stay encrypted end to end. See our security page for how FilePort Pro handles your credentials.

Frequently asked questions

Does SiteGround use cPanel?

No. SiteGround runs its own control panel called Site Tools on current plans instead of cPanel. You manage files, databases, and FTP or SFTP access from Site Tools rather than a cPanel-style interface.

How do I create a SiteGround FTP/SFTP user?

Open Site Tools for your site and find the FTP / SFTP users area — on many accounts it's under Devs or a similar users section, though the exact label can vary, so confirm what yours shows. There you can add a user, set a username and password, and see the hostname for your site.

Does SiteGround support SFTP?

Yes. SiteGround supports both FTP and SFTP and recommends SFTP because it encrypts the connection. SFTP typically uses port 22 — check the host and port shown in Site Tools for your site and use what it displays.

How do I find my SiteGround FTP credentials?

Sign in to the SiteGround Client Area, open your Website, and go into Site Tools. In the FTP / SFTP users area you'll find your hostname (usually your domain) and your username, and you can set or reset the password there. Use those values to connect.

Can I upload to SiteGround without the File Manager?

Yes. SiteGround has its own File Manager inside Site Tools, but you don't have to use it. Connect with any FTP or SFTP client, including a browser-based one, and upload files directly into the right folder with visible progress.

More host guides

SiteGround runs its own Site Tools panel, but the same connect-and-upload ideas apply across hosts. See the guide for your host:

• cPanel FTP — upload without the File Manager
• GoDaddy FTP & SFTP — where to find credentials
• Bluehost FTP & SFTP — how to upload files
• Hostinger SFTP & FTP — hPanel credentials
• DigitalOcean SFTP — upload files to a Droplet
• DreamHost SFTP & FTP — connect from the browser
• Plesk FTP & SFTP — access & find credentials
• Cloudways SFTP — upload files from the browser
• 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 SiteGround from your browser

No install, no sign-up, no credentials stored. Connect Now — access your SiteGround files

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