Frequently Asked Questions

FileZilla is a free FTP client used to transfer files between your local computer and remote web servers. It is widely used for website deployment, server file management, backup operations, and data synchronization. It supports FTP, FTPS, and SFTP protocols.

FileZilla Client is the application you install on your computer to connect to remote servers and transfer files. FileZilla Server is a separate program that runs on a machine to host files and accept incoming FTP, FTPS, and SFTP connections from clients. Most users only need the Client.

FileZilla Client is cross-platform and runs on Microsoft Windows (8.1 and later), macOS, Linux, and BSD systems. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available for Windows. The application is available in 47 or more languages.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) transfers files in plain text without encryption. FTPS adds SSL/TLS encryption to FTP connections. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a completely different protocol that runs over SSH and encrypts all data and commands. SFTP is the most secure option and is recommended whenever your server supports it.

Yes. FileZilla Client is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2). The source code is publicly available for review, modification, and redistribution according to the license terms. There is no cost for the core FTP client functionality.

No. The official FileZilla Client does not contain malware, spyware, keyloggers, or cryptocurrency miners. Some antivirus programs may flag it as a potentially unwanted program due to historical bundled installer offers or heuristic detection. Always download from trusted sources and verify SHA checksums.

Antivirus false positives on FileZilla are a documented issue. Causes include optional third-party software bundled in some download wrappers, heuristic classification of network tools, and outdated virus definitions. Verify your download checksum, install from the official download page, and add FileZilla to your antivirus exclusion list if needed.

Yes. FileZilla is legal software distributed under the GPL license. Users are responsible for ensuring their file transfer activities comply with applicable laws, server terms of service, and data protection regulations. Only access servers you are authorized to use.

After downloading, compute the SHA-1 or SHA-256 hash of the installer file and compare it against the published checksum on our download page. On Windows, use PowerShell: Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA1 .\filename.exe. On macOS or Linux, use: shasum -a 1 filename. Matching hashes confirm file integrity.

Standard FTP uses port 21. SFTP uses port 22 (the SSH port). FTPS may use port 990 for implicit TLS or port 21 for explicit TLS. Your hosting provider will specify the correct port and protocol in their documentation or control panel.

Connect to your server, navigate to the web root directory on the Remote site panel (commonly /public_html or /www), locate your files in the Local site panel, then drag and drop them to the remote directory. You can also double-click files or right-click and select Upload. Monitor progress in the transfer queue at the bottom.

Yes. FileZilla supports resuming interrupted uploads and downloads. If a transfer fails due to a network issue, you can retry it and FileZilla will continue from where it left off, provided the server also supports resume (most modern servers do).

In Site Manager, set Protocol to SFTP. Change Logon Type to Key file. Browse to your private key file (e.g., id_rsa or id_ed25519). Ensure your public key is installed on the server in the authorized_keys file. Click Connect to authenticate without a password.

Within FileZilla, go to Edit > Settings, navigate to the Updates section, and click Check for updates now. Alternatively, download the latest version from our download page and install it over your existing installation. Your Site Manager entries and settings are preserved during upgrades.

FileZilla Pro is a commercial version that adds support for additional cloud protocols such as Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Google Drive, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft OneDrive. For standard FTP, FTPS, and SFTP file transfers, the free FileZilla Client is fully capable and sufficient for most users.