Knowledgebase

Creating an FTP account in Plesk allows users to access the files and directories of your website or domain for uploading, downloading, or managing files. Here’s how you can create an FTP account for your domain or subdomain in Plesk:

Step-by-Step Guide to Create an FTP Account in Plesk:

Step 1: Log in to Plesk

1. Open your browser and navigate to your Plesk control panel.
   • The URL is typically: https://your-domain.com:8443 (replace your-domain.com with your actual domain name or server IP address).
2. Enter your admin username and password to log in.

Step 2: Go to the "Websites & Domains" Section

1. Once logged in, click on the "Websites & Domains" tab on the Plesk dashboard.
2. This section shows all of the domains and subdomains hosted on your server.

Step 3: Select the Domain or Subdomain

1. Find the domain or subdomain for which you want to create the FTP account.
2. Click on the domain name to access its settings and management page.

Step 4: Go to the "FTP Access" Section

1. In the "Websites & Domains" tab, you will see a section called "FTP Access" (this may be listed as "FTP Accounts" depending on your Plesk version).
2. Click on "FTP Access" to manage FTP accounts for the domain.

Step 5: Create a New FTP Account

1. Click on the "Add FTP Account" button (or "Create FTP Account").
2. A form will appear where you need to enter the details of the FTP account.

Step 6: Enter the FTP Account Details

1. FTP Username: Enter a username for the new FTP account (e.g., ftpuser or newftpuser).
2. Password: Set a strong password for the FTP account. You will typically need to confirm the password by entering it again in a second field.
   • Plesk may provide a password strength indicator to help you choose a secure password.
3. Directory: Choose the directory (folder) that the FTP user will have access to. You can either:
   • Choose the root directory for the domain (e.g., httpdocs) so the user can access the website files.
   • Set a specific directory under your domain, which restricts the FTP user to only that folder and its subfolders.
4. Permissions: Select the level of access the FTP user will have:
   • Read and Write: Allows the user to upload, download, and modify files.
   • Read-Only: Allows the user to view files but not modify or upload them.
5. Quota (Optional): Set a storage limit for the FTP account if you want to restrict the amount of disk space the user can use.

Step 7: Save the FTP Account

1. Once you have entered all the necessary details, click "OK" or "Create" to save the new FTP account.
2. The account will now be created, and you’ll be able to see it listed in the FTP accounts section.

Step 8: Provide FTP Login Details to the User

• Provide the FTP username and password to the user so they can log in using an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla, Cyberduck).
• The user will need to enter these credentials, along with the FTP server address (typically ftp.your-domain.com or your-domain.com), in the FTP client to connect.

Step 9: Test the FTP Account (Optional)

1. To ensure the new FTP account works correctly, use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) to log in with the credentials you just created.
2. Try uploading or downloading files from the specified directory to make sure the user has the correct access permissions.

Additional Notes:

• FTP Client: When connecting with an FTP client, the user will need to provide the hostname (e.g., ftp.your-domain.com), username, and password. The FTP client may also require port 21 unless you are using SFTP (for secure FTP).
• Security: It's a good practice to use SFTP (Secure FTP) instead of regular FTP, as it encrypts data during transfer. To use SFTP, the FTP account user will need an SSH key or password-based login enabled for their account.
• FTP Account Deletion: If you ever need to delete the FTP account, you can return to the "FTP Access" section and click the "Delete" option next to the account.

By following these steps, you can easily create an FTP account in Plesk for managing your website files.