SFTP Connection Problems and Unblock My IP
My SFTP app times out or can't connect
The most common cause is a temporary block: 4 failed logins within 10 minutes block your IP address for 30 minutes. While blocked, SFTP apps just time out.
- Open your hosting account → SFTP.
- Click Unblock my IP. The panel shows the IP it will unblock: the one you're browsing from.
- Wait a few seconds and connect again, from the same network.
- You can request an unblock 5 times per hour.
- If your IP was blocked 3 times in one day, it's blocked for a week and the button can't lift it. Contact support.
- If you use a VPN, the panel and your SFTP app must use the same connection, otherwise the wrong IP is unblocked.
"Authentication failed" or "Access denied"
- Copy the password from the panel rather than typing it.
- Check the username: it's your hosting username, not your portal email.
- If you generated a new password, old saved passwords in your SFTP app no longer work.
"Connection refused" or wrong protocol
Use SFTP on port 22. Plain FTP (port 21) and FTPS aren't available.
I can't create files in the top folder
Your home folder itself is read-only; that's normal. Put files inside domains/ (your websites), logs/ or tmp/.
The account is suspended
SFTP is disabled while an account is suspended. See Suspended or Deleted Hosting Accounts.