FTP failures are commonly caused by incorrect usernames, the wrong hostname, blocked passive mode ports, or attempting insecure FTP where only secure methods are allowed.
Common symptoms
- Connection refused or authentication failed
- Listing directories hangs after login
- FTP works on one network but not another
Troubleshooting steps
- Use the full FTP username as shown in cPanel and verify the password carefully.
- Try the primary domain, server hostname, or the exact FTP endpoint provided in your service details.
- Enable passive mode in the FTP client. This resolves many directory listing failures.
- Use explicit FTPS or SFTP if your environment prefers encrypted access.
- Test from a different network to rule out local firewall or ISP filtering.
Additional notes
- FTP account permissions may be limited to a specific directory by design.
- SFTP uses SSH credentials and settings, not standard FTP account credentials.
When to contact support
Contact support if authentication succeeds but directory listing or transfers always fail.