How to Connect to an FTP Site

FTP, or "File Transfer Protocol," is a common way to connect to a website server for site construction and management. FTP is much faster than connecting via HTTP, and can be much simpler to use. Connecting to an FTP site is quite easy, when using the right program in the correct way.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Any version of Windows Notepad or piece of paper

Instructions

1. In your website administration tools, find the IP address for the FTP server of your site. This will be a 10 digit punctuated number, in the format of "99.00.99.00:99." Accompanying the IP address will be login information for FTP. This will consist of a username and a password. Write each of these things down for later reference.

2. Open "My Computer" or "Windows Explorer" on your computer. These will usually be located on your desktop, or in your start menu.

3. Type the IP address for the site in the address bar on the top of the window after opening either of the Windows programs. Make sure to include an "ftp://" before typing in the IP address. (For example: ftp://99.00.99.00:99)

4. After entering the correct FTP address, a small screen will pop up, prompting you to enter a username and a password. Enter these in their corresponding input fields, then press "Log In."

5. Now access your FTP site just as you would another folder on your hard drive or on your network. You can open files from here, or copy and paste files from elsewhere.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of navigating back and forth between your FTP server and a place on your hard drive, simply open two copies of "Windows Explorer" or "My Computer" and have one set to your FTP, and the other set to your hard drive.
• Only connect to FTP sites that you have permission to access. It is against the law to access prohibited files that are not yours.