What you need first
Your WordPress directory is where every file on your site actually lives. Themes, plugins, images, and the core WordPress files themselves.
The dashboard only manages content and settings. Getting into the directory means connecting straight to your hosting account's file system.
Before anything else, get your FTP or SFTP credentials from your host. You need four things: the server address, your username, your password, and the port.
Most hosts list these in your account dashboard, under something like "FTP Accounts" or "FTP/SFTP Details." If you cannot find them, your host's support chat can generate a set in a couple of minutes.
Using FileZilla
FileZilla is a free FTP client, and it works the same way on every host. I think that makes it worth learning once, instead of relearning a new file manager each time you switch providers.
1. Download and install it from the link above, matching your operating system.
2. Open Site Manager. In FileZilla, go to File > Site Manager, then click New Site.
3. Enter your connection details. Host is your FTP address. Port is 21 for standard FTP, or 22 for SFTP. For Protocol, pick "FTP - File Transfer Protocol" if your host gave you FTP credentials, or "SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol" if they gave you SSH credentials. These use different login systems and are not interchangeable. If you are on plain FTP, set Encryption to "Require explicit FTP over TLS" so your password is not sent in the clear.
4. Connect. Your computer's files appear on the left, your website's on the right. Your WordPress install is almost always inside a folder called public_html. On shared hosting with several sites, it may be public_html/yourdomain.com.
Using your host's File Manager instead
If you would rather not install anything, most hosts include a browser-based File Manager in cPanel or Plesk. It does the same job, with no FTP credentials at all.
cPanel's own File Manager documentation covers the specifics. The general path: log into your hosting account, open the control panel, find File Manager, and go to public_html.
It is slower for moving lots of files around, and faster for a one-off edit, because there is nothing to install.
Before you change anything
This is your live site's real file system. There is no undo.
Back up any file or folder before you edit it. Never delete a folder inside wp-content/plugins or wp-content/themes unless you are certain it is not the active one.
If you are not sure what a file does, leave it alone and ask someone who is.
Common questions
What do I need before I can connect?
Four things from your host: the server address, your username, your password, and the port. Most hosts list them in your account dashboard under something like "FTP Accounts" or "FTP/SFTP Details." If you can't find them, your host's support chat can generate a set in a couple of minutes.
Should I use FileZilla or my host's File Manager?
Either does the job. FileZilla is free and works the same way on every host, which I think makes it worth learning once. The browser-based File Manager needs no install and no FTP credentials, so it's faster for a one-off edit and slower for moving lots of files around.
What's the difference between FTP and SFTP?
They use different login systems and aren't interchangeable, so pick the protocol that matches the credentials your host gave you. Standard FTP uses port 21 and SFTP uses port 22. If you're on plain FTP, set encryption to require explicit FTP over TLS so your password isn't sent in the clear.
Can I break my site doing this?
Yes. This is your live site's real file system, and there is no undo. Back up any file or folder before you edit it, never delete a folder inside wp-content/plugins or wp-content/themes unless you're certain it isn't the active one, and if you're not sure what a file does, leave it alone.
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Scan my site free →Where to start
Not comfortable poking around your site's files directly? gravityGone handles WordPress maintenance and one-off fixes for small businesses across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Mike is the founder of gravityGone, where he helps small businesses in Northeast Florida grow through Web Development, SEO, and Marketing Automation.
