How to Connect to FTP from the command line

 

Download Video: How to Connect to FTP from the command line.mp4

📌 First — an important note

Apple removed the built-in ftp command starting with macOS High Sierra (10.13).
So depending on your version:

• Older macOS → ftp exists

• Modern macOS → use sftp (secure FTP) or install an FTP client like lftp

I’ll show you all options.

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✅ Option 1 — Use sftp (Recommended & Works on All Modern macOS)

sftp is secure (encrypted) and always included.

🔐 Connect to a server

Replace values in this command:

sftp username@ftp.example.com

Example:

sftp john@ftp.myserver.com

You'll be prompted for your password.

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📂 Common SFTP Commands

Command	Meaning
ls	list files
cd folder	change directory
pwd	show remote folder
lpwd	show local folder
lcd folder	change local folder
get filename	download file
put filename	upload file
mget *.txt	download multiple files
mput *.pdf	upload multiple files
bye	exit

Example upload:

put myfile.zip

Example download:

get data.csv

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✅ Option 2 — Install Real FTP Support (if you MUST use FTP)

macOS no longer ships with ftp, but you can add it via Homebrew.

1️⃣ Install Homebrew (if you don’t have it)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2️⃣ Install lftp

brew install lftp

3️⃣ Connect

lftp ftp://username:password@ftp.example.com

or interactively:

lftp ftp.example.com

Then login when prompted.

Commands are similar to ftp/sftp:

ls
cd folder
get file
put file
bye

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✅ Option 3 — If Your macOS Still Has ftp (Older Systems)

ftp ftp.example.com

Login when asked.

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🔐 Using FTP Over TLS (FTPS)

If your host requires FTPS:

lftp -u username,password -e "set ftp:ssl-force true" ftp.example.com

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🛑 Quick Security Tip

Plain FTP is not encrypted — passwords & data are visible on the network.
Prefer:

✔ sftp
✔ ftps

Avoid:

✖ plain ftp

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🎯 Summary

Method	Works today?	Secure	Notes
sftp	✅ Yes	🔐 Yes	Best choice
lftp	✅ Yes	⚠ Optional	Install via Homebrew
ftp	❌ Removed	❌ No	Only old macOS

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