How to Run an FTP Server on Windows 10

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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If you want to have your own FTP server on yourWindows 10, Windows 8 orWindows 8.1computer, you came to the right place. This article will show you how to set-up your own FTP server, without installing any third party apps, using justWindows‘ built-in features.Using aFTP serveron internal or external network is definitely very fast and easy way to share and access files across the network. Fortunately,Windows 10, Windows 8 andWindows 8.1have built-in FTP server feature, which is located underInternet Information Servicefeatures, but isn’t installed with the system, and needs to be installed afterwards. But there are other solutions to help youcreate a website, if that’s what you’re interested in.

Steps to setup FTP Server on Windows

Opencontrol Panel, go toPrograms and Featuresand chooseTurnWindowsfeatures on or off.

IfInternet Information Servicewas not installed with your system, then you’ll need to install it separately. Screenshot below shows you what features you need to turn on to run a FTP server on yourWindows 10/8/8.1. Click OK to install the features you selected.

After installation is finished, openInternet Information Services (IIS) ManagerinAdministrative ToolsinControl Panel, as shown in the screenshot below.

Expand the sites, right click on it and click on ‘Add FTP Site’.

Give a name to your FTP site and browse for the local folder which is need for the access to others through your FTP server.
Next, you’ll have to select your computer’s IP from the drop down box.

If you don’t have any certificates for this connection, checkNo SSLoption, but if your FTP network is for professional use, you might need to enable SSL.

Set Up FTP Access Permission on Windows

In this section, you’ll learn how to set permissions for other users of your FTP network. You’ll be able to set the way others will access your network and who will have Read-only or Read and Write privileges. Let’s say that you want specific users to read and edit your content, of course they’ll need username and password for that. Other users, who will be able only to read the content, and not to edit it are called anonymous users.

First of all, create a group onWindows 10, Windows 8 local computer and add users who will be able to write and edit the content.

You must giveWindowspermission, in this case,Modifyaccess, to this group, which is directly linked with your FTP site.

In the next screen to give the permission, check Basic, this feature will request username and password from certain users. To specify these users, select Specified roles or groups option from drop down menu and type the name of the group you’ve just created. Set Read and Write permission for the group. Click onFinishand complete the setup.

Basic Authentication is enabled inWindows10/8/8.1 by default, but you should check for it just in case. Open ‘FTP Authentication’ settings of the site and make sure Basic Authentication is enabled.

Now when we created permissions for Read and Write users, we should do the same thing with the anonymous users.

To start, Open ‘FTP Authorization Rules’ for the FTP site you created. Create an‘Add Allow Rule’and set the permissions as shown on the screenshot below:

Make sure that second rule is also listed.

Anonymous users access needs to be enabled from FTP Authentication settings.

Check the Firewall

The last thing you need to do is to check your Firewall. You need to either allow your FTP inbound or disable the firewall, to make sure your FTP server will run perfectly without any interuptions.

That’s it, now you’re able to create your own FTP network on yourWindows 10, Windows 8 orWindows 8.1. If you have any uncertainties, please leave your comments below. And if you are interested in increasing your cloud storage, you can have a look atthese apps, as well.

In case you’re experiencing any FTP issues on your machine, here are a few solutions to fix your problem:

For additional solutions and detailed instructions on how to perform the steps listed above, you can check outthis troubleshooting guide.

How to Run an FTP Server on Windows 10#

Steps to setup FTP Server on Windows#

Set Up FTP Access Permission on Windows#

Check the Firewall#

How to Run an FTP Server on Windows 10

Steps to setup FTP Server on Windows

Set Up FTP Access Permission on Windows

Check the Firewall