Manage Multiple FTP Accounts in cPanel
Create and manage extra FTP accounts for developers, designers, clients, backups, and addon sites. Set usernames, directories, and quotas. Use FTPS for extra accounts. Use SFTP only when SSH is enabled.
Why extra accounts?
Do not share the primary cPanel login. Give each person or job a login that can only see one folder. Create an FTP Account · How accounts work
Jail
The user cannot browse above the directory you assign.
Quota
Optional cap so one login cannot fill the disk.
SFTP
Extra FTP users are FTP/FTPS only unless the host documents otherwise.
Create another account
- cPanel → Files → FTP Accounts.
- Log In: short name. Full username is often
name@yourdomain.com. - Password: long and unique. Save it in a password manager.
- Directory: smallest folder that still works, e.g.
public_html/project. Watch the auto-filled path as you type the username. - Quota if you want a cap, then Create FTP Account.
Directory examples
| Role | Home directory |
|---|---|
| Designer, media only | public_html/images |
| One project | public_html/app |
| Addon domain | That domain’s document root |
| Site owner | Primary account, not an extra FTP user |
Manage existing logins
Connect extra accounts with FTP or explicit FTPS on port 21. Do not expect those same usernames to work as SFTP on port 22. Using SFTP with cPanel
Test each account
- Open FileZilla, WinSCP, or Cyberduck. Choose a client
- Host, complete username, password, protocol, port.
- Confirm the first folder is the one you assigned and that parent folders are not listed.
Hygiene
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use more than one FTP account?
Separate logins keep designers, developers, clients, and backup jobs out of folders they do not need. Each account gets its own password, home directory, and optional quota, so you never share the main cPanel username. If one password leaks, you change or delete that login only. Start with one account per person or task rather than one shared login for the whole team.
Should teammates share a single FTP username?
No. A shared login makes it hard to see who uploaded a file, and you cannot revoke one person without locking everyone out. Give each person a unique account pointed at the smallest folder that still works. When someone leaves the project, change that password or delete the account. Creation steps are in how to create an FTP account.
How do I keep an FTP user inside one folder?
Set Directory to the top folder they may use, such as public_html/images or an addon domain’s document root. Through FTP they can open that folder and its subfolders but should not browse above it. cPanel often auto-fills a path from the username, so edit it before you click Create. Then connect with FileZilla or WinSCP and confirm the remote pane opens in the expected directory.
Can I give someone FTP access to only one addon domain?
Yes. Create an extra account and set its home directory to that addon domain’s document root instead of public_html. The user can manage that site’s files without seeing the primary website or other addon domains. Choose the matching domain in the Domain menu when cPanel shows one. This is safer than handing over the primary FTP login that can reach the whole hosting account.
Do extra FTP accounts work with SFTP?
Usually they do not. Additional cPanel FTP users are for FTP or FTPS on port 21. SFTP uses SSH on port 22 and typically accepts only the primary cPanel account or another SSH-enabled system user. Test FTPS first with each extra login. Save each site separately in your client’s Site Manager so protocol and port stay correct. More protocol notes are on the blog index.
What should I do when one FTP account hits its quota?
Open Files → FTP Accounts, find the user, and choose Change Quota. Raise the limit if they still need space, or delete unused files in their home directory. A quota on one FTP user is not the same as the hosting plan’s total disk limit. If Change Quota is missing, the server may use ProFTPD, which does not always expose per-account FTP quotas. Account limits are explained in FTP user accounts.
When should I delete an extra FTP account?
Remove the login as soon as a contractor, old project, or backup script no longer needs it. Choose Delete Account to keep the files, or Delete Account and Files only when that folder can be destroyed. Never use the files option if the home directory is public_html. After deletion, remove the saved site profile from the FTP client so an old password is not reused by mistake.
Can I reserve one account just for automated backups?
Yes. Create a dedicated login pointed at a backup folder, give it a unique password, and use that account only in scripts or scheduled transfers. Do not store the password in a public web file. Prefer FTPS or SFTP when the host allows the protocol you plan to automate. Workflow ideas are in automating file transfers, choosing an FTP client, and what FTP is.
FTP Learning Resources and How To Instructions
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