FTP is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol. As the name suggests, FTP is used to transfer files between computers on a network. You can use FTP to exchange files between computer accounts, transfer files between an account and a desktop computer, or access online software archives. Keep in mind, however, that many FTP sites are heavily used and require several attempts before connecting.

How to use FTP?

Graphical FTP clients

Graphical FTP clients simplify file transfers by allowing you to drag and drop file icons between windows. When you open the program, enter the name of the FTP host (for example, ftp.microsoft.com) and your username and password. If you are logging into an anonymous FTP server, you may not have to enter anything. Two common FTP programs are Cyberduck (for Mac) and WinSCP (for Windows).

Web browser

You can use a web browser to connect to FTP addresses exactly as you would to connect to HTTP addresses. Using a web browser for FTP transfers makes it easy for you to browse large directories and read and retrieve files. Your web browser will also take care of some of the details of connecting to a site and transferring files. While this method is convenient, web browsers are often slower and less reliable and have fewer features than dedicated FTP clients.

To use your web browser to connect to an FTP site such as ftp.empire.gov, where you normally enter a URL, enter:

ftp://username@ftp.empire.gov/

Command-line FTP

Windows, macOS, and Linux have built-in command-line clients; see Common FTP commands. For example, to start FTP, at the command-line prompt, enter:

ftp ftp.empire.gov
If you are connecting to your own account, enter your username and password. If you are connecting to an anonymous FTP site, for your username, enter anonymous. For your password, enter your email address.
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