I told you how to access your file manager to upload a single file, but sometimes you need to upload many files at once. To do this, you'll need to know how to use FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
For some reason, the term "FTP" strikes fear into many, but as you'll see, once you've got an FTP client set up, it's simple. (And the process of getting an FTP client isn't a big deal either.)
As I mentioned in How to Set Up Hosting and WordPress, one of the reasons I like Bluehost is because there's an FTP client (Unlimited FTP) right in my cPanel. If you don't have this option, you will have to get yourself an FTP client (again, not a big deal).
There are many free FTP clients available. Filezilla is a popular choice (here are some others as well). Simply download the client and follow the instructions for setup.
Regardless of which FTP client you use, the process should look and feel very similar to what I outline below. Basically, FTP lets you see the files on your computer and your server simultaneously. Then you can just drag and drop them from one to the other. I highly recommend becoming familiar with FTP as it is another one of those really-helpful-to-have skills.
How to Access Unlimited FTP (Bluehost only)
1. Login to your cPanel at Bluehost.
2. Scroll down until you find the "Unlimited FTP" icon. (Again, note that this a built-in feature for Bluehost only. If you use HostGator, you will have to use an FTP client like Filezilla to do this then skip to the next step.)
3. This is where all FTP clients look and function basically the same. A side-by-side screen will appear with your computer files on the left and your server files on the right. Files you create and save are on the left (your computer) and navigating this list is just like navigating your Finder. Your main self-hosted WordPress files (on your server at Bluehost or HostGator) can be found in the public_html folder on the right side of the screen. If you don't see the public_html folder, click on the computer icon at the top of the window until some folders drop down. Remember, your navigating these windows just as though you were trying to find something on your computer. So, you may have to drill down some.
4. Transferring files is simply a matter of:
- Selecting the folder/file you want to transfer from on one side.
- Highlighting the location you want that folder/file to go into on the other side.
- Clicking the respective arrow, depending on whether your folder/files are being transferred from your computer to your server or vice versa.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.
Would you happen to know how to do this on HostGator? I can't seem to find unlimited FTP anywhere…
Never mind…found a youtube video on it.
Thank you so much…I can't tell you how helpful your blog is. I've been wanting to set up a WordPress account for a while and kept hitting road blocks and would just give up out of frustration Now I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Even though it's still a ways away…. 
Glad you figured it out! Yes, Unlimited FTP is an advantage of Bluehost but you can use an FTP client (like Filezilla) which I mentioned in the post.
Hi Amy! I'm having trouble using FileZilla and am praying you can help.
Everything is showing up on my left screen side, but nothing is showing up on my right–instead it says "not connected to any server." At the top of the page there are spaces to type in host, username, password, and port. I've tried putting my website as my host–is that right? And which username and password am I to use here? Hostgator? WordPress? I'm ready to use Feedsmith and kinda bummin' about this snag.
FTP Host/Address: (your ip address or domain name)
FTP User: (cPanel/FTP user name)
FTP Password: (cPanel/FTP password)
Port: 21
Path/directory: (blank*)
Hope this helps Stacy
Hey Amy,
First of all, I went through the Bluehost link here so just wanted to let you know.
Thanks to the priceless info that you have given out here, I now have my website up and running. Of course, I keep coming back to check this and that everyday, and I learn something nw everytime.
I'm still trying to make a lot of changes (homepage banner being no 1 in them) and hopefully I should be able to get somewhere soon.
Thank you so much for all the valuabel info you share with us, I couldn't have done it had I not happened to come across your site.
Please visit my website whenever you get a chance.
Congrats, Minnie!
Your photo/link is broken. I am interested in learning this. I use bluehost and wordpress and I need to learn everything I can. Also, is there a reason to load a theme at the cpanel/ftp as opposed to the dashboard?
Hi, Thanks so much for all your advice and tutorials!! I downloaded a theme, but it doesn't appear to have a zip file. How do I zip the theme? And if I use FTP, do I use the archives.php? Is there a way to know if it uploaded incorrectly or is working properly? THANKS
You don't need to zip it if you upload it via FTP. If it's in a folder already, just go to wp-content –> themes –> and then find the list of folders with other theme names (you should at least have a folder names TwentyTwelve or TwentyEleven). Just put the folder for your theme there. I hope that makes sense!
Wow, I am so frustrated I could almost cry.
First, I already have a blog at blogger and I'm trying to build the new with WordPress before I switch. So, I think my Bluehost is using a temporary URL (I haven't been sure of anything since purchasing the hosting).
I have built my Blogger blog from scratch, learning HTML and CSS to do it and I loved every second of it. I want to do that again with Twenty Twelve, so I watched your video on creating a child theme.
But when I open Unlimited FTP in the cPanel, there is nothing on the right side as in your screenshot. And the options that would be there are grayed out.
When I try to do anything it says "Please connect to the FTP server." And it doesn't tell me how. Anywhere.
I'm just at the end of my rope trying to figure this mess out. I can borrow the money to purchase Genesis and Prose if it will save me from having to figure out all the FTP junk. Please tell me it will.