FTP Tutorials >>

CuteFTP

This is the initial screen of CuteFTP. To start the upload process click the connect button. It is the second one from the left and is labeled with lightning bolt.

To continue this tutorial click the connect button in the screenshot below.

Once the connect button has been clicked a connection bar will appear just below.  There are three pieces of information that need to be entered here: the host (domain), the username, and the password for the hosting account.

Also note that there is now a second connect button labeled with a lightning bolt.  It appears on the connection bar just after the hosting account settings.  Once the settings have been filled in this button will become active.  To connect click this button.

To continue this tutorial click the new connection button in the screenshot below.

CuteFTP now does the work of connecting to the hosting server.  The steps it goes through will be displayed in the dialogue box shown below.  If there is a problem connecting, such as an authentication error, this screen will give you some clue as to what might be going on.

Once the connection has been established click the 'OK' button.  To continue this tutorial click 'OK' in the screenshot below.

Once CuteFTP has successfully connected,  the connection bar will disappear and you should see a view similar to the one shown below.  The left side will display the files on your computer while the files on the hosting server appear on the right. 

To move a file to the hosting server first locate it on the left and then double-click it.  To continue this tutorial click on 'default.htm' in the screenshot below.

The progress of the transfer will be displayed in the bottom pane.  If a firewall is interfering with the upload process this is the phase in which an error will likely occur.  Again, CuteFTP may display messages here as it did in the connection dialogue that provide some clue as to what is going wrong.

Most likely all that will be necessary at this stage is to wait.  Click the 'Next' button below the screenshot to continue this tutorial.

Once the transfer is successful the file will appear in both the left and the right panes of the program, as it now exists on both computers.  If CuteFTP is unable to perform the transfer and the Internet connection is intact, then a firewall may be interfering. 

To fix this problem it is usually necessary to adjust the passive transfers setting within CuteFTP.  The following screens show how this is done.  The first step is to open the 'Settings' dialogue box under the 'Edit' dropdown menu.

To continue this tutorial click 'Edit' in the screenshot below.

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CuteFTP's settings may be accessed by clicking 'Settings' at the bottom of the 'Edit' dropdown menu.

To continue this tutorial click 'Settings' in the screenshot below.

CuteFTP's firewall settings appear in the 'Connection' area.

To continue this tutorial click the '+' beside the connection entry in the screenshot below.

To access the firewall settings click on 'Firewall' in the left pane of the dialogue box.  'Firewall' must be highlighted in order for the settings within to display on the right. 

The passive transfer option is labeled PASV and is checked by default inside the program.  If you are having trouble transferring files after successfully connecting then it might be helpful to uncheck this option, click 'OK," and try again.

To continue this tutorial click 'OK' in the screenshot below.

Clicking 'OK' within the settings dialogue box will return a person to the main screen.  Disconnect, reconnect, and try to transfer the file again. 

To return to the tutorial list click the 'Next' button below.