FTP Settings

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a very old way to send file data over a network, including the Internet. Even though a lot of people use email attachments, email wasn’t designed for file transfers, and size limitations apply.

Most web browsers can handle FTP traffic, and there are FTP clients that can be installed on computers to make connecting to and using an FTP server easier.

FTP uses port 20 for data and port 21 as a control. You can connect to an FTP server using a hostname such as ftp.servername.com. Remember, especially when using a web browser, use ftp and not http at the beginning of the web address. You can also use the server’s IP address to make the connection.

Firewalls, including those that come natively on Windows XP and later versions, might block port 21 and stop FTP traffic cold. You will likely have to go into the Windows Security Center and create an exception to allow FTP traffic both into and out of the computer.