How do I move files to and from my website/directory? When you own a website, whether you are initially putting it up, or maintaining it over time, you will need to move files both to and from the web server and your PC. But how do you do that?  It’s easy!  That’s what FTP is all about. Two terms you should become familiar with right away - download and upload.  When you send a file from your PC to your website/directory, you are uploading a file.  When you bring a file down from your website/directory to your PC, you are downloading  a file. Also, notice I am using the word directory when speaking of your website.  That is because your website actually sits on a web server, in its own directory.  The web server may host dozens or even hundreds of other websites, each in its own unique directory.  Now, when you move files to and from your website, you are actually moving files to and from your directory on the web server. The following directions are illustrated using the popular WS FTP tool, but most all FTP tools work in pretty much the same way, so if you are using a different tool, it should be easy enough to follow along anyway. Open your FTP software. FTP to your home directory, entering your username, your password and path to your web directory.

You will see two (2) directories, Local and Remote.  Local is your hard drive. Remote is your web directory.  Navigate through your hard drive as you would with any Windows dialog, to get to the files on your PC that pertain to your website.

Now, lets say you want to download a file; that is, move a file from your website directory, to your PC. Using the Remote Site directory, find the file you want to download and click on it.  It should now be high-lighted.

You have done it!  You just pulled a file from your website to your PC!  Now, if you wanted to upload a file from your PC to your web directory, you would do exactly the opposite.