How do I use FTP from a command line?
Question
How do I use FTP from a command line?
Answer
Note: FTP is not an encrypted transmission, which means any data sent over it, including your username and password could be read by anyone who may intercept your transmission. If you're wanting a more secure transmission we suggest using SFTP.
Connect using FTP
Send and receive a file in FTP
FTP commands
To connect to another computer using FTP at the MS-DOS prompt, command line, or Linux shell type FTP and press enter. Once in FTP> type:
open ftp.example.com
In the above example, you'd substitute example.com for the name of your domain you're wanting to connect to. In addition to the domain name the IP address of the computer you're trying to connected to can also be typed typed in, for example, open 192.168.1.12.
Once connected you will be asked for a username and password. If these are entered properly you'll be successfully connected to the server where you can browse the files, send files, or receive files depending on your rights. Some servers may also allow anonymous logins you can connect to these computers using guest / e-mail address.
Send and receive a file in FTPTo get files from the server onto your own computer use the get command as shown in the below example. In this example you'd get the file myfile.htm.
If you want to get
more than one file use mget and
wildcards, for example, if you wanted to
get all files that end with .htm you could type mget *.htm. Finally, if you do
not want to be prompted as each file is being sent make sure to type prompt to
disable prompting.
get myfile.htm
To send a file from your computer to the computer you are connected to assuming you have the rights use the send command as shown in the below example. In this example we're sending the myfile.htm to the directory we're currently in.
send myfile.htm
It is important to realize that the files being sent must be in your local working directory. In other words the directory you were in when you typed the FTP command. If you want to change to the directory that contains your files use the lcd command. For example, on Windows you'd type lcd c:\windows to set the local directory to the Windows directory.
Depending upon the version of FTP and the operating system being used, each of the below commands may or may not work. Generally typing -help or a ? will list the commands available to you. Below is a general description of FTP commands available in the Windows command line FTP command.
| Command | Information |
| ! | Using this command you will have the capability of toggling back and forth between the operating system and ftp. Once back in the operating system generally typing exit will take you back to the FTP command line. |
| ? | Access the Help screen. |
| append | Append text to a local file. |
| ascii | Switch to ASCII transfer mode |
| bell | Turns bell mode on / off. |
| binary | Switches to binary transfer mode. |
| bye | Exits from FTP. |
| cd | Changes directory. |
| close | Exits from FTP. |
| delete | Deletes a file. |
| debug | Sets debugging on / off. |
| dir | Lists files if connected. dir -C = Will list the files in wide format. dir -1 = Lists the files in bare format in alphabetic order dir -r = Lists directory in reverse alphabetic order. dir -R = Lists all files in current directory and sub directories. dir -S = Lists files in bare format in alphabetic order. |
| disconnect | Exits from FTP. |
| get | Get file from the computer connected to. |
| glob | Sets globbing on / off. When turned off the file name in the put and get commands is taken literally and wildcards will not be looked at. |
| hash | Sets hash mark printing on / off. When turned on for each 1024 bytes of data received a hash-mark (#) is displayed. |
| help | Access the Help screen and displays information about command if command typed after help. |
| lcd | Displays local directory if typed alone or if path typed after lcd will change local directory. |
| literal | Sends a literal command to the connected computer with an expected one line response. |
| ls | Lists files of the remotely connected computer. |
| mdelete | Multiple delete. |
| mdir | Lists contents of multiple remote directories. |
| mget | Get multiple files. |
| mkdir | Make directory. |
| mls | Lists contents of multiple remote directories. |
| mput | Sent multiple files |
| open | Opens address. |
| prompt | Enables/disables prompt. |
| put | Send one file |
| pwd | Print working directory |
| quit | Exits from FTP. |
| quote | Same as the literal command. |
| recv | Receive file. |
| remotehelp | Get help from remote server. |
| rename | Renames a file. |
| rmdir | Removes a directory on the remote computer. |
| send | Send single file. |
| status | Shows status of currently enabled / disabled options |
| trace | Toggles packet tracing. |
| type | Set file transfer type. |
| user | Send new user information. |
| verbose | Sets verbose on / off. |
Additional information
- See FTP dictionary definition for additional information about FTP and related links.