I’m trying to update my WordPress site, but it keeps asking for FTP credentials and I’m not sure where to find them. I checked my hosting dashboard and old setup emails but still can’t locate the FTP username, password, or host details. I need help figuring out where these credentials are stored or how to reset them so I can get back into my site and finish the update.
I see this question a lot, especially from people trying to upload a theme manually, fix a plugin issue, or give temporary access to a developer. One thing that confused me at first is that WordPress itself does not create or manage FTP accounts. FTP access comes from your hosting provider.
So if you need your WordPress FTP username and password, you need to check your hosting control panel, not the WordPress dashboard.
Usually the process looks like this
First, log in to your hosting account using the details your web host gave you. Most hosts use cPanel, but some use a custom dashboard. Once inside, look for something called FTP Accounts or FTP Access in the Files section.
There you’ll normally see existing FTP accounts already connected to your site. Usernames are visible, but passwords usually are not. If you forgot the password for an existing account, there’s usually a reset or change password option.
If no FTP account exists yet, you can create one. Just choose a username, set a strong password, and save it. I’d suggest using a password with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
You’ll also see a folder or directory setting. If the account is only for someone working on your WordPress site, it can be smart to limit access to the WordPress folder only. That way they won’t be able to browse unrelated files on the server.
Many hosts also show a quota setting. If it’s for your own use, unlimited is usually fine. If you’re creating temporary access for someone else, you might want to limit it.
Once the account is created, you can log in with:
- Hostname (often your domain or ftp.yoursite.com)
- Username
- Password
- Port 21 for FTP or 22 for SFTP
If your host supports it, use SFTP since it’s more secure.
FTP clients worth using
FileZilla
Very common and free. Easy to set up and works on most systems. The downside is that when handling large files or many files at once, it can get slow.
Commander One
Good option for Mac users. It’s paid, but includes more advanced FTP/SFTP features and supports archives, which helps when compressing files and moving them to a server. Useful if you do development work regularly.
Cyberduck
Free and open-source. A lot of people like it because it supports different connection types. That said, some users report issues with basic file operations.
CloudMounter
Works on Windows and Mac. CloudMounter is very beginner-friendly because it lets you open FTP servers directly inside File Explorer or Finder, so transferring files feels like using a normal folder.
Final tip
If you can’t find FTP settings anywhere, contact your host’s support team. Since FTP is managed by the hosting company, they can usually tell you exactly where to find or create your credentials.
1 Like
What often gets missed is this. WordPress asking for FTP details does not always mean you need to hunt down an old FTP account.
Sometimes it asks because your server file permissions are off, or PHP does not own the WordPress files. In that case, WordPress falls back to FTP mode. So before you keep searching, check wp-config.php for this line:
define(‘FS_METHOD’, ‘direct’);
If your host allows direct writes, adding it stops the prompt. If it breaks updates, remove it. Make a backup first.
Also check ownership and perms. Common setup is folders 755, files 644. If your site files were uploaded by a different user, WordPress updates fail and asks for credentials every time. Annoying, but common.
I partly agree with @mikeappsreviewer. The host panel is one place to look. But if you never created a separate FTP user, there might be no password to find. You reset it or use SFTP tied to your hosting account.
Fast path:
- Check if your host wants SFTP, not old FTP.
- Check file ownership and permissions.
- Try FS_METHOD direct.
- Use host file manager if you only need one plugin or theme upload.
- If you need a client, Commander One is solid on Mac for SFTP work and easier than some older tools.
If your host uses managed WordPress, they sometiems disable normal FTP menus. Support has to enable or reset it.
One angle I don’t see stressed enough in what @mikeappsreviewer and @nachtschatten said: the “FTP credentials” WordPress asks for are sometimes not a separate FTP account at all. On a lot of hosts, the correct login is actually your main hosting username plus the server password, or an SFTP login tied to SSH access. Kinda annoying, because WordPress says FTP even when the host really wants SFTP.
So I’d check these places specifically:
- SSH/SFTP section in hosting, not just “FTP Accounts”
- Server details or “Site info” page for hostname
- Password reset for the primary hosting user
- Managed WordPress tools where file access is hidden in a different menu
Also, if you only need to update one plugin/theme, I honestly wouldn’t bother chasing FTP first. Use the host’s file manager or upload manually through your control panel. Faster, less pain.
One small disagreement with the usual advice: forcing FS_METHOD can help, but I wouldn’t do that before confirming your host supports it. On some setups it just creates a diffirent mess.
If you do end up needing a desktop client, Commander One is a pretty solid option on Mac for FTP/SFTP because it feels less clunky than older clients.
If you still can’t find the creds, ask hosting support this exact thing:
“Is my WordPress update prompt expecting FTP, SFTP, or my primary hosting account credentials?”
That usually cuts through the nonsense prety fast.
One extra check I’d do, beyond what @nachtschatten, @sterrenkijker, and @mikeappsreviewer covered, is look at your host’s application settings or site tools page for a one-click reset file permissions or repair ownership option. Some hosts hide this there instead of in the FTP area, and it fixes the prompt without you ever needing credentials.
Also, slight disagreement with the “just create an FTP account” advice: if this is your own site and updates used to work, creating a brand new FTP user can be a workaround, not the real fix. It may solve the symptom while leaving broken ownership underneath.
Another overlooked place: your host’s staging or cloning tool. If the site was migrated or pushed from staging, file ownership sometimes changes right after that.
If you do need a client on Mac, Commander One is decent.
Pros: clean dual-pane layout, easy SFTP handling, better Finder-like workflow.
Cons: not free for all features, overkill if you just need one password reset, Mac-centric recommendation.
If support gets involved, ask them:
“Can you confirm the document root owner matches the PHP user running WordPress?”
That question usually gets you past the canned replies fast.