FTP Server is a popular protcol and tool which is used to share files and data over the network. Windows operating systems like Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows Server can be used as FTP server by using built-in or 3rd party FTP Server programs. FTP provides easy to install and access to the files and folders. In this tutorial we examine how to install FTP Server in Windows 10 but these instrcutions can be also used other Windows operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server versions.
Install Built-in FTP Server on Windows 10
Windows operating systems provide a built-in FTP server. This FTP server can be installed or enabled via the Turn windows features on or off screen. So first we open this screen via the Start Menu. We type windows features to the Start Menu which lists the “turn Windows Features on or off” like below.
In the Windows Features screen we navigate to the Internet Information Services like below. There select the FTP Server , FTP Extensibility , IIS Management Console like below.
The last step is clicking OK which installs these components which are required for FTP Server. The FTP Service and FTP Extensibility is the core of the FTP server and the IIS Management Console is used to configure and set up an FTP server which is provided as a part of Internet Information Services or IIS. If the installation is completed successfully we will see the following screen with the “Windows completed the requested changes.”
Configure FTP Server via IIS Manager
We use the IIS Manager or Internet Information Services Manager to setup and configure FTP Server or FTP service in Windows. First, we open the IIS Manager via the Start Menu by typing internet information services like below.
In the IIS Manager expand the Siteson the Connections pane and then right click on is which lists the Add FTP Site... . Click to the “Add FTP Site…”
The following Add FTP Site configuration walktrough is started. We can set the FTP site name which is used to name it inside the IIS Manager. The Content Directory is the path where the FTP server root path is located inside the current Windows. In this example we set the FTP server root path as C:\Users\ismail\backup . The “…” button can be used to open path explorer to select the physical path too.
In this Binding and SSL Settings screen we set the FTP service binding IP addresses or network interfaces. The IP Addres is the IP address we want to run the FTP service. The default and most wide configuration is All Unassigned which runs the FTP services all network interfaces where port 21 is available. The Port configuration is used to set the FTP service port number to run. Default FTP service port number is 21 but if required it can be changed. Start FTP site automatically setting starts the FTP service automatically when the windows starts without manual interaction. SSL section provides encryption-related configuration about SSL service. By using Allow SSL the FTP service can be secured and encrypted with SSL but this is not mandatory where clear text FTP connections also allowed. Requires SSL forces the FTP connections to be with SSL. SSL Certificate is used to specify the SSL certificate used with this FTP service. But in this case, we select No SSL in order to disable SSL encryption.
In this Authentication and Authorization Information screen we set the authentication and authorization configuration about the FTP service. In the Authentication section Anonymous is used to allow access to FTP service without any authentication by enabling the anonymous users. Basic configuration is used for basic authentication. In the Authorization section we select the authorization configuration like which users can access to the FTP users. We select All Users where all Windows users can access to the FTP service. Permission section we set the Read and Write permissions to specify if the selected users can read or change and write the data in the FTP server.
This was the last step and we finish the configuration by clicking to the Finish button. The FTP server or service is listed in the IIS Manager like below with its Name , ID ,Status ,Binding information like below.
Start, Stop and Restart FTP Server
We can manage the FTP server or FTP service via the IIS Manager. In order to manage specific FTP service first we click on it which shows the Manage FTP Site pane in the left like below. There the FTP server or FTP service can be started, stopped or restarted by using related buttons like below.
Configure Windows Firewall For FTP Server and Ports
Windows Firewall is used to protect ports on the Windows operating system. By default the FTP port is closed by the Windows Firewall. In order to access to the FTP server via network the FTP port should be allowed in the Windows Firewall. First we open the Windows Firewall via the Start Menu by typing “windows firewall” which lists firewall like below. Click to the “Windows Firewall” which can be also named as “Windows Defender Firewall” in some cases.
In the Windows Firewall screen click to the Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall like below.
If the Allowed apps and features pane is grayed or disabled click to the Change settings button like below. This enables the “Allowed apps and features” where we can allow the FTP service port.
In the “Allowed apps and features” screen navigate to the FTP Server and check the checkboxes like below for the Private and Public which enables the FTP server port for both Public and Private Firewall profiles. The last step is click to on the OK button to apply this setting.
