There are a lot of advantages to having your FTP server. There are a few things I like about it. First, it’s private, and you can control exactly how it’s used and who has access to it.
In addition, it is also speedy, although the exact speed will vary depending on your Internet connection speed. There are also no restrictions whatsoever on the amount or type of data that can be stored and transferred.
These advantages make it more appealing for people to set up their own FTP server as a result of the benefits it offers. It’s good news if you happen to be one of them, as Windows has many features that make it easy to set up and manage your own FTP server if you happen to be one of them.
This guide will assist you in setting up an FTP server on Windows 10 and provide you with the necessary instructions on how to manage the server. The process is more or less the same if you have an older operating system, but there are a few differences.
Windows 10 FTP server setup
Step1: Installing an FTP server on Windows 10
- Navigate your way to the “programs and features” section of the Power User menu by opening the menu. In order to access the Power User menu, you can press Windows + X on the keyboard.
- The option referred to as “turn Windows features on or off” can be found on the left pane of the window.
- Then you will be presented with a list of folders that you can choose from. Check the “FTP server” option in the folder entitled “Internet information services” when you expand the folder.
- It is important for you to make sure that the option titled “FTP extensibility” is checked as well.
- There is another folder below the “Internet information services” folder entitled “Web management tools” Check that folder too, and leave the options there as they are.
- In order to start the installation process, click the OK button at the end of the process.
- As soon as the installation is complete, click the close button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Configuring an FTP server on Windows 10
As soon as the FTP server has been installed, the next step will be to configure it in order to use it. In order to complete this process, you will need to follow the steps listed below.
- With the Windows + X shortcut, you can open the power user menu.
- You will need to open the administrative tools.
- The Internet information services manager (IIS) can be accessed by double-clicking.
- Navigate to the “Sites” folder on the left side pane of your next window by expanding the folders on the left side pane.
- Choose the option to add an FTP site by right-clicking on “sites” and choosing “add FTP site” As a result, an FTP connection will be created for you.
- You will need to give your site a name and enter the path to the FTP folder that you want to use to send and receive files from your site.
- You will be able to continue by clicking on “next“
- Change the SSL setting on this screen to “no SSL” Leave the rest of the settings the same as they are.
- To ensure the security of your website, make sure you choose the “require SSL” option when configuring the site, as this will provide another layer of encryption to the information being transferred.
- The authentication screen will appear after you click “next“
- Select the “basic” option under the authentication section of this screen in order to proceed.
- In the authorization section, click on the drop-down menu that says “specified users” and choose that option.
- In order to gain access to the FTP server, you will need to type the email address associated with your Windows 10 account in the text box below.
- In the permissions section, make sure that both the read and write boxes are checked.
- At last, Click on finish.
Step 3: Allowing FTP to pass through Windows Firewall
A connection to the FTP server can’t be established because the Windows Firewall does not allow access to it. In other words, you will have to explicitly specify to the firewall that access should be granted to this server. The following steps will show you how to do that.
- Enter “Windows firewall” in the start menu of your Windows operating system.
- It is possible to allow an app or feature through the Windows Firewall by selecting the appropriate option from the left-side pane. Now, tap on it.
- You will have to click on the “change settings” button when the next window appears.
- Select the “FTP server” from the list of options and allow the server to be accessible on private and public networks.
- Click the OK button once you have completed the process.