How to Set Up an FTP Server on Windows 11/10

Setting up an FTP server on Windows 11 or Windows 10 allows you to transfer files between your computer and other devices over a network. FTP, which stands for File Transfer Protocol, is commonly used to upload, download, and manage files remotely.

Windows includes the Internet Information Services (IIS) platform, which can provide FTP server functionality without requiring separate server software. You can enable IIS and its FTP components through Windows Features, create a folder for your FTP files, configure authentication and permissions, and then connect to the server from another computer or FTP client.

An FTP server can be useful on a home network when you want to transfer large files between computers, access files from another device, or create a centralized location for sharing files. It can also be useful in certain business and development environments.

However, FTP is not encrypted by default. This means you should be careful about exposing a traditional FTP server directly to the internet. For a home network or trusted local network, you can configure it for local access. If remote internet access is required, using a more secure alternative such as SFTP or FTPS is generally preferable.

The following steps explain how to enable IIS FTP Server, create an FTP directory, configure access, and connect to it from another Windows computer.

Enable IIS and FTP Server

The first step is to enable Microsoft’s IIS components and FTP Server on Windows 11 or Windows 10.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

optionalfeatures

3. Press Enter.
4. Find Internet Information Services in the Windows Features window.
5. Expand Internet Information Services.
6. Expand FTP Server.
7. Check FTP Service.
8. Check FTP Extensibility.
9. Expand Web Management Tools.
10. Make sure IIS Management Console is selected.
11. Click OK.
12. Wait while Windows installs the required components.
13. Restart the computer if Windows asks you to do so.

After installation, IIS Manager should be available on your computer.

You can open it by pressing the Windows key and searching for:

IIS

Then select Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

If IIS Manager opens successfully, the required IIS components have been installed.

Create an FTP Folder

Next, create the folder that will contain the files you want to make available through FTP.

For example, you could create:

C:\FTP

To create it:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Open the C: drive.
3. Right-click an empty area.
4. Select New → Folder.
5. Name the folder:

FTP

You can use another drive or folder if you prefer.

For example:

D:\FTP

Using a separate drive can be useful if you expect the FTP folder to contain many large files.

After creating the folder, place a test file inside it. For example:

C:\FTP\Test.txt

This will make it easier to verify that your FTP server is working later.

Create an FTP Site in IIS

Now you can create the FTP site.

1. Open IIS Manager.
2. In the left pane, expand your computer’s name.
3. Right-click Sites.
4. Select Add FTP Site.
5. Enter a name for the FTP site.

For example:

My FTP Server

6. For Physical path, browse to the folder you created earlier.

For example:

C:\FTP

7. Click Next.

You will now see the Binding and SSL Settings section.

For a basic local-network FTP server, you can leave the IP address set to All Unassigned.

Keep the default FTP port:

21

Port 21 is the standard control port used by traditional FTP.

For initial testing on a trusted local network, you can select No SSL. However, this should not be considered secure for sensitive information or internet-facing connections.

Click Next.

Configure FTP Authentication

The next screen controls who can access your FTP server.

Under Authentication, you will normally see options such as:

• Anonymous
• Basic

For a personal FTP server, using authenticated access is generally preferable.

Select:

Basic

This requires users to provide Windows credentials when connecting.

Under Authorization, choose who should have access.

For example, you can select:

Specified users

and enter a Windows user account.

You can also select an appropriate permissions option such as:

• Read
• Write

If you only want users to download files, enable Read.

If you want users to upload files to the FTP folder, enable Write as well.

For example, a download-only FTP server should generally use:

Read

while a file-sharing server where users need to upload files may require:

Read
Write

Click Finish to create the FTP site.

Configure Folder Permissions

IIS FTP permissions and Windows file-system permissions work together.

Even if an FTP user has been given permission in IIS, Windows may still prevent access to the underlying folder.

To configure the folder:

1. Right-click your FTP folder.
2. Select Properties.
3. Open the Security tab.
4. Click Edit.
5. Select the Windows account that will access the FTP server.
6. Grant the required permissions.

For a read-only server, users generally need permission to read the files.

For uploads, the account will need appropriate write permissions.

Avoid giving Full control unless it is actually necessary. Granting only the permissions required for the intended task is safer.

After configuring permissions, click Apply and then OK.

Allow FTP Through Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall may prevent other devices from connecting to the FTP server.

Windows normally creates appropriate firewall rules when IIS components are installed, but you should verify the configuration if another device cannot connect.

Open Windows Security and go to:

Firewall & network protection

You can also search the Start menu for:

Windows Defender Firewall

Open the advanced firewall settings and look for IIS or FTP-related inbound rules.

If necessary, enable the appropriate FTP server rules for your network profile.

For a home FTP server, avoid unnecessarily exposing the service to public networks.

You should generally keep your Windows network profile appropriately configured and avoid opening FTP access broadly when it is only needed on your local network.

Find Your Windows PC’s IP Address

To connect to your FTP server from another device, you need the IP address of the Windows computer hosting the server.

Press Windows + R, type:

cmd

and press Enter.

Then run:

ipconfig

Look for the network adapter you are currently using.

You should see an entry similar to:

IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.25

The exact address will be different on your network.

In this example, the computer’s local IP address is:

192.168.1.25

You can then use this address when connecting to the FTP server.

Connect to the FTP Server From Another Windows PC

Once the server is configured, you can test it from another computer connected to the same network.

Open File Explorer and enter the following into the address bar:

ftp://192.168.1.25

Replace 192.168.1.25 with the IP address of your FTP server.

Press Enter.

If authentication is enabled, Windows will ask for the FTP account’s username and password.

Enter the appropriate credentials.

If the connection succeeds, you should see the files stored in your FTP directory.

For example:

Test.txt
Photos
Documents

You can then download files or upload them if the account has write permission.

Connect Using an FTP Client

You can also connect to your Windows FTP server using a dedicated FTP client.

An FTP client typically asks for:

Host:

192.168.1.25

Port:

21

Protocol:

FTP

Username:

Your Windows account username

Password:

Your Windows account password

The exact connection interface depends on the FTP client.

Dedicated FTP clients can provide additional functionality, including easier file transfers, directory management, transfer queues, and connection profiles.

For simple local transfers, however, File Explorer may be sufficient.

Test Upload and Download Permissions

After connecting, test the permissions you configured.

If the account has Read permission, try downloading the test file.

If the account has Write permission, try uploading another file.

If downloading works but uploading fails, check both IIS authorization settings and Windows folder permissions.

For example, suppose your FTP folder is:

C:\FTP

The account needs appropriate Windows permissions on that folder in addition to the FTP authorization settings.

If you want a download-only server, allowing Read without Write is generally the better configuration.

Access the FTP Server From Another Device

Your FTP server can potentially be accessed from other devices on the same local network.

For example, a second Windows PC could connect using:

ftp://192.168.1.25

A compatible FTP application on another device can also connect using the server’s local IP address and port 21.

The devices need network connectivity to the Windows computer hosting IIS.

If your PC is connected to a router through Wi-Fi while the other device uses Ethernet, they can still communicate as long as the router allows communication between those devices.

Some routers or network configurations isolate wireless clients from other devices. If this is enabled, local FTP connections may fail even though both devices have internet access.

Configure FTP for Internet Access

You should be cautious about making an FTP server accessible from the internet.

A traditional FTP server can expose usernames, passwords, and data without encryption when configured without SSL/TLS.

If you need remote access, do not simply forward port 21 from your router to your Windows PC without understanding the security implications.

FTP can also require additional ports for passive-mode data connections, which makes internet configuration more complicated.

For remote access, consider using SFTP or properly configured FTPS instead.

If you nevertheless need an internet-accessible IIS FTP server, you should configure SSL/TLS, authentication, passive-mode settings, firewall rules, and router port forwarding appropriately.

Do not expose an FTP server publicly unless you understand the security requirements and have a specific reason to do so.

Troubleshoot FTP Connection Problems

If you cannot connect to your FTP server, check the connection step by step.

First, verify that IIS is running.

Open IIS Manager and confirm that your FTP site is started.

Next, verify the IP address:

ipconfig

Make sure you are using the current IPv4 address.

Then verify the port. A standard FTP configuration normally uses:

21

Check Windows Firewall if the connection is blocked.

Also verify the username and password if you are using Basic authentication.

If you receive an Access Denied error, check the Windows Security permissions on the FTP folder.

If you can connect but cannot upload files, verify that the account has Write permission both in IIS and on the Windows folder.

If the server works locally but not from another device, check the Windows firewall and network configuration.

Finally, make sure you are not testing from a network that isolates connected devices.

Conclusion

Setting up an FTP server on Windows 11 or Windows 10 is possible using the built-in Internet Information Services (IIS) platform. You can enable IIS and its FTP components through Windows Features, create a dedicated FTP folder, create an FTP site in IIS, configure authentication and authorization, and then connect to it from another device.

For a basic home network, an authenticated FTP server can be useful for transferring files between computers. You can connect through File Explorer using an address such as:

ftp://192.168.1.25

with your own computer’s local IP address.

Remember that FTP without encryption is not appropriate for sensitive information or unrestricted internet access. If you need secure remote file transfers, consider SFTP or FTPS instead.

For the safest setup, limit FTP access to the devices and users that actually need it, use strong account credentials, grant only the necessary file permissions, and avoid exposing traditional FTP directly to the public internet.

FAQs

1. Does Windows 11 have a built-in FTP server?

Yes. Windows 11 includes IIS, which can provide FTP server functionality. You need to enable the appropriate IIS and FTP components through Windows Features before creating an FTP site.

2. What port does an FTP server use?

Traditional FTP uses TCP port 21 for its control connection. FTP data connections can use additional ports depending on whether active or passive mode is used. This is particularly important when configuring FTP through a router or firewall.

3. Can I access my Windows FTP server from another computer?

Yes. If both computers are connected to the same network, you can connect using the Windows computer’s local IP address, for example:

ftp://192.168.1.25

You must replace the example address with the actual IPv4 address of your Windows computer.

4. Is FTP safe to use on Windows 11?

FTP can be used safely in a controlled local environment, but traditional FTP does not encrypt credentials or transferred data by default. Avoid exposing an unencrypted FTP server directly to the internet. For sensitive or remote transfers, use a secure protocol such as SFTP or properly configured FTPS.