Find your FTP server, username and password in the Host Dada Control Panel, unlock FTP, and connect with FileZilla (or any FTP app) to upload your website. You can also create extra FTP logins for a web designer that only see one folder.
Before you start
- Install an FTP app. We use FileZilla Client (free, Windows and Mac) in this guide. Download the client, not the server.
- For security, FTP on Host Dada hosting is locked until you unlock it. Step 3 shows how.
Settings at a glance
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Host (server) | ftp.hostdada.uk (works before and after your domain points to us). ftp.yourdomain.co.uk also works once your domain uses Host Dada nameservers |
| Protocol and port (recommended) | FTP, port 21, explicit FTP over TLS |
| Alternative: SFTP | SFTP, port 22, same username and password |
| Username | Your main domain, e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk (extra FTP accounts use name@yourbusiness.co.uk) |
| Password | Shown under FTP Details in the Control Panel |
| Transfer mode | Passive |
| Website folder | public_html |
Find your FTP details and unlock FTP
- Log in to the Host Dada Control Panel. Go to cp.hostdada.uk (or Client Area → Services → your hosting → Login to Control Panel). If you have several packages, click Manage next to the right one.
-
Find FTP Details on the right-hand side. You'll see the FTP Server, Username and Password. Click the eye icon to show the password, or the pencil icon to set a new one.
Your main FTP login is in the FTP Details box on the package's home page.
-
Unlock FTP. Just above FTP Details is a brown bar that says FTP Locked. Click Settings, choose how long to unlock for (1 hour is recommended) and click Unlock FTP. The bar changes to FTP Unlocked and shows when it will lock again.
Unlock FTP for a set time, or only for your IP address.
If you always connect from the same office or home connection, you can use Unlock FTP by IP Address instead. Your current IP address is filled in for you (separate several addresses with commas). To lock again early, click the switch on the bar.
Connect with FileZilla
- Open the Site Manager. In FileZilla, go to File → Site Manager and click New site. Give it a name, such as your domain.
-
Enter the settings.
- Protocol: FTP - File Transfer Protocol
- Host:
ftp.hostdada.uk, Port:21 - Encryption: Require explicit FTP over TLS
- Logon Type: Normal
- User and Password: from FTP Details
- Check passive mode. On the Transfer Settings tab, choose Passive.
- Click Connect. The first time, FileZilla shows an Unknown certificate window. This is normal for a new connection. Tick Always trust this certificate in future sessions and click OK.
- Upload your files. Your computer is on the left and your hosting on the right. On the right, double-click
public_html, then drag files from the left into it.
ftp.hostdada.uk and port 22, and log in with the same username and password. FTP still needs to be unlocked. For command-line access, see Connect with SFTP and SSH.Create an extra FTP account (for a designer or developer)
Give someone their own login instead of sharing yours. You can limit it to one folder, and remove it when the work is finished.
- Open FTP Accounts. In the Web Files section, click FTP Accounts.
-
Fill in Add a New FTP Account. Enter a Username (for example
designer), pick the domain, and enter a Subdirectory. Usepublic_htmlfor the whole website or, for example,public_html/blogfor one folder only.
Adding an FTP account that can only see one folder.
- Click Add FTP Account. It appears under Modify an FTP Account, where you set its password and click Save. The full username is
designer@yourdomain.co.uk. - Unlock it when needed. Each extra account has its own lock, shown as FTP Locked in the Security column. Use the Options menu to change or delete the account.
Your plan's FTP account allowance is shown under Usage Information on the package's home page.
Troubleshooting
"530 Login failed" or "Login denied"
Either FTP is locked or the password is wrong. The full message usually mentions FTP locking. Unlock FTP (step 3) and try again. If it still fails, copy the password again from FTP Details, and check the username is your full domain with no www..
Connects, but the folder list times out ("Failed to retrieve directory listing")
Set the transfer mode to Passive. If you're on a strict office network, its firewall may block the data connection. Try SFTP on port 22, or test from another connection such as a phone hotspot.
"Could not connect to server" or the host can't be found
Use ftp.hostdada.uk as the host. ftp.yourdomain.co.uk only works once your domain uses Host Dada nameservers.
I uploaded files but the website hasn't changed
Check you uploaded into public_html (or the folder set for that domain), then refresh with Ctrl+F5. If the old version is still cached, purge the CDN cache (see Speed up your site with the CDN).
Last reviewed: October 2026
