Everything in one place
Install Ghost FTP on Windows or Linux, configure FTP, FTPS and SFTP connections correctly, and start transferring in the browser version at /ftp.
Installation
Follow the steps for your platform. The whole installation takes a couple of minutes and needs no account.
FTP configuration
What every field means, which protocol to choose, and what your server needs to allow.
Host is the address of your server (for example ftp.yourdomain.com or an IP address). Port is 21 for FTP and FTPS with explicit TLS, 990 for implicit FTPS and 22 for SFTP. Username and password come from your hosting provider or server administrator. Remote path is optional and lets you open a specific folder, such as /public_html, immediately after connecting.
Use SFTP whenever your server offers it: it runs over SSH on a single encrypted channel and needs no extra firewall rules. Use FTPS with explicit TLS when your server is FTP based but supports encryption. Use plain FTP only on trusted internal networks, because credentials and file contents travel unencrypted. SFTP is available in the desktop application and in the browser gateway when the hosting account provides the PHP SSH2 extension; FTP and FTPS remain available without SSH2.
In Site Manager set the authentication method to Key file and select your private key (OpenSSH or PuTTY format). If the key is protected by a passphrase, Ghost FTP asks for it when connecting and can keep it for the current session only. The public key must be present in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the server. Keys never leave your computer.
Leave transfer mode on Passive unless your administrator tells you otherwise; passive mode works behind most routers and firewalls. Set the transfer type to Automatic so text files get correct line endings and binaries stay untouched. Concurrent transfers default to two; raise them only if your server allows more sessions. Timeout defaults to 20 seconds and can be increased for slow links.
Open Site Manager, create a new entry, fill in host, port, protocol, username and authentication, then give it a clear name. Optionally set a default local folder and a default remote folder so both panes open where you work. Saved sites can be grouped into folders, duplicated for separate environments, and exported for backup.
The account must have read and write permission on the folders you use. For websites the document root is usually /public_html, /htdocs or /www. If listings appear empty, check that the account is not locked to a different home folder. For FTPS the server needs a valid TLS certificate; for self-signed certificates Ghost FTP asks you to confirm the fingerprint once.
Browser version
The browser version connects to your server through a transient HTTPS-to-FTP/FTPS/SFTP gateway. Credentials are used only for the current request or transfer session and are never written to disk by Ghost FTP.
Troubleshooting
The host or port is wrong, or a firewall blocks the connection. Confirm the port with your provider and keep transfer mode on Passive.
FTP usernames are often the full email address or a prefixed account name. Copy the credentials from your hosting control panel and check for trailing spaces.
You may be outside your home folder, or the account has no read permission. Type the full path, such as /public_html, in the path field.
The server uses a self-signed or expired certificate. Verify the fingerprint with your administrator before accepting it.
Check free disk space and the permissions of the target folder. Failed items stay in the Failed tab of the Transfer Queue and can be retried.
The browser gateway supports SFTP only when the hosting account has the PHP SSH2 extension enabled. If SSH2 is unavailable, use FTP/FTPS in the browser or the desktop application for SFTP.
Still stuck? Read the download guide, browse Support or contact us.