FileZilla Client on Mac: How to Transfer Files to WordPress via SFTP

FileZilla is a free and open-source, cross-platform FTP application, consisting of FileZilla Client and FileZilla Server. In this article, I will be showing you how to Install FileZilla Client on Mac: How to Transfer Files to WordPress via SFTP. Kindly refer to these related articles: How to transfer data from an old PC to a new PC, how to Import a user profile in Windows to another PC, How to Install and Setup WordPress into a cPanel and Configure Your First WordPress Theme, and how to Connect to a FileZilla Server: How to install and configure a FileZilla Server on Windows.

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is a network protocol for securely accessing, transferring and managing large files and sensitive data. The SFTP feature is available on sites with the WordPress.com Business or Commerce plan. If your site has one of our legacy plans, it is available on the Pro plan.

Note: It is worth mentioning that, you d not have to access your site’s file structure in order for it to function. WordPress advises you not to tamper with the site’s file structure. Only do it when you have a very specific reason to do so. If you don’t understand what a file does, don’t edit it. Uploading unknown files, or editing existing files, without understanding them may lead to your site breaking, and can also cause you to lose data.

Download FileZilla Client

The FileZilla Client not only supports FTP but also FTP over TLS (FTPS) and SFTP. In order to transfer files via SFTP, we would have to download the FileZilla client for this purpose. Please proceed to the following URL to download the FileZilla client.

Click on Download FileZilla Client as shown below.

You will be redirected to the following download page. Please see the following articles also: Access FTP Server from your browser: How to create a shortcut and access Filezilla from Windows Explorer, and how to install and configure an FTP server on Windows 10.

We shall be downloading the free version. other download types are being paid for! Please click on the Download button as shown below.

What is a Zip File?

ZIP files work in much the same way as a standard folder on your computer. They contain data and files together in one place. But with zipped files, the contents are compressed, which reduces the amount of data used by your computer. Another way to describe ZIP files is as an archive. Here is an interesting guide on how to transfer Windows license from one PC to the other on Windows 10 and 11.

Next, double-click the installer downloaded. The following information will be prompted “FileZilla is an app downloaded from the internet, click on Open it” asking for It will ask for system permissions. Click on open as the file isn’t malicious.

Please launch the FileZilla Client by double-clicking it. You can alternatively move it to the Application folder or any other folder as you wish or leave it on your Desktop.

Connect With SFTP Server

To connect to the SFTP Server, please enter the following details. Since we are connecting to a WordPress SFTP Server, we will have to log on to WordPress to retrieve this information.

If you are having connection issues. please take a look at this article “Authentication Failed: How to fix critical error could not connect to WordPress SFTP Server“.

Access SFTP/SSH Credentials on WordPress

Please access WordPress Host Configuration and navigate to the SFTP/SSH credentials section. Copy the relevant credentials to the FileZilla client to connect. Please see how to fix “Warning: FTP over TLS is not enabled, users cannot securely log in: You appear to be behind a NAT Router, please configure the passive mode settings and forward a range of ports in your router“.

Now that we have the SFTP connection details, we will have to connect to the remote site. Populate the host, username, and password and enter the specified port. Lastly, click on Quick Connect.

Kindly populate the field below with your SFTP credentials to connect. The image below shoud be ignored. All you need to do is copy and paste the Password from WordPress.

Next, you will be prompted with the options below to save or not save passwords using the Remember Passwords Dialog as shown below. I do not want to have passwords saved.

Note: If the the server were to communicate over an insecure protocol, it will also show the security warning But this is not the case here!

On the “Unknown Host Key Dialogue”, click on Ok. You can also trust this host and add the key to the cache!

As you can see, the connection is successful.

Transfer Files to WordPress via SFTP

To move files from the Local to Remote SFTP Site, follow the steps below. Let’s assume you wish to move some files or folders from the Dropbox folder, you will need to first grant the folder access to FileZilla. Else, you will not be able to list the directory.

When permission is granted, you can simply move the file over to the remote site. You can simply just right-click on a folder or file and click on UPLOAD as shown below. This will automatically be sent to the remote site location you have selected.

As you can see from the status, the files have been transferred successfully to the remote site.

Delete File/Folder from SFTP Server

Actually, I did transfer other files. But I decided to show you how you would transfer your desired files if you so wish. Since these files are actually not needed and just to demonstrate how this can be done. To delete files, right-click and select download as shown below.

As you can see below from the SFTP status, the files were successfully deleted.

Status:      	Retrieving directory listing of "/tmp/COB"...
Status:      	Listing directory /tmp/COB
Status:      	Directory listing of "/tmp/COB" successful
Status:      	Deleting 2 files from "/tmp/COB"
Status:      	Retrieving directory listing of "/tmp"...
Status:      	Listing directory /tmp
Status:      	Directory listing of "/tmp" successful

When you are done, you can disconnect the and quit FileZilla.

I hope you found this blog post helpful on how to Install FileZilla Client on Mac: How to transfer File to WordPress via SFTP. Please let me know in the comment section if you have any questions.