How to upload files to your site using SFTP

SFTP is a useful way to upload files to your website, especially when you need to transfer large files or move many files at once. This guide walks you through uploading themes, plugins, and media files to your WordPress site.

When to use SFTP for uploads

SFTP is the best option when you need to:

• Upload large files that are too big for the WordPress media uploader
• Install premium themes or plugins that you have downloaded as ZIP files
• Transfer many files at once, such as a batch of product images
• Move files in bulk from your computer to your website

For smaller tasks like adding a single image to a blog post or installing a free plugin, it is easier to do it directly through WordPress.

Before you start

1. Create a backup of your site from your Web60 dashboard. This gives you a safety net in case anything goes wrong.
2. Connect via SFTP using your preferred software. If you have not set up SFTP yet, follow our guide on how to access your website files using SFTP.

Uploading a theme

1. Download the theme ZIP file to your computer
2. Extract (unzip) the file — you should get a folder with the theme name
3. In your SFTP software, navigate to htdocs/wp-content/themes/
4. Upload the entire theme folder into the themes directory
5. Once the upload is complete, go to your WordPress dashboard
6. Go to Appearance > Themes
7. Find your uploaded theme and click Activate

Uploading a plugin

1. Download the plugin ZIP file to your computer
2. Extract (unzip) the file to get the plugin folder
3. In your SFTP software, navigate to htdocs/wp-content/plugins/
4. Upload the entire plugin folder into the plugins directory
5. Once the upload is complete, go to your WordPress dashboard
6. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins
7. Find your uploaded plugin and click Activate

Uploading images and media

1. In your SFTP software, navigate to htdocs/wp-content/uploads/
2. You will see folders organised by year and month (for example, 2026/03)
3. Upload your images into the appropriate folder, or create a new folder if needed
4. To use these images in WordPress, you may need to import them into the media library using a plugin like Media Sync

WordPress organises uploaded media by date. If you want to keep things tidy, follow the same year/month structure when uploading via SFTP.

Important tips

• Stay inside wp-content — only upload files to folders within wp-content. Do not modify or replace any files outside this folder, as they are part of WordPress itself and changing them could break your site.
• Keep file names simple — use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens. Avoid spaces and special characters in file names.
• Large uploads take time — if you are uploading many files or very large files, be patient and let the transfer complete fully before closing your SFTP software.
• Check your work — after uploading, visit your site to make sure everything appears as expected.

Need help?

If you are having trouble uploading files or need guidance, visit our support page and we will be happy to help.