Once you've reviewed our FTP Getting Started Guide, you know that your cPanel username and password can be used to access FTP. But did you know that when you create an Addon domain, cPanel automatically sets up a separate FTP account for it?
This can make publishing to your Addon domain faster, safer, and more organized.
Understanding the Directory Structure
- When your cPanel account is created, your main domain uses the public_html directory as its document root.
- When you add an Addon domain, cPanel
- Creates a new folder inside public_html, typically named after the Addon domain.
- Sets up an FTP account assigned specifically to that folder.
Main domain root: public_html/
Addon domain root: public_html/addondomain.com/
Why Use the Addon Domain's FTP Account?
The FTP account created for your Addon domain is restricted to its own folder. It cannot access files above its assigned directory. This has several advantages:
- Security – Limits access to only the Addon domain’s files.
- Simplicity – Keeps your main domain and other Addon domains separate.
- Organization – Makes it easy to manage and publish to a specific domain.
You can still use your main cPanel FTP credentials to access everything, but using the Addon domain's FTP account is a best practice, especially if you're working with developers or collaborators.
