The Ultimate FTP Commands List

Looking for a one-stop place for FTP commands? Look no further. This list of FTP commands should help you if you’re responsible for the day-to-day management of your FTP server, or if you have to batch files to your FTP server.

Included are both FTP commands and the FTP command line. If you’re interested in a printer friendly version to hang by your desk (so you don’t need to keep coming here!) or a way to share it with your colleagues, just click here and we’ll send it over to you!

By the way, we know this isn’t a complete list, but if there are any additional FTP commands you think should be added to this FTP command list, please let us know by leaving a comment!

FTP Command List

Type	Command	What it Does
Command	!	Runs the specified command on the local computer
Command	?	Displays descriptions for ftp commands
Command	append	Appends a local file to a file on the remote computer
Command	ascii	Sets the file transfer type to ASCII, the default
Command	bell	Toggles a bell to ring after each file transfer command is completed (default = OFF)
Command	binary	Sets the file transfer type to binary
Command	bye	Ends the FTP session and exits ftp
Command	cd	Changes the working directory on the remote computer
Command	close	Ends the FTP session and returns to the command interpreter
Command	debug	Toggles debugging (default = OFF)
Command	delete	Deletes a single file on a remote computer
Command	dir	Displays a list of a remote directory’s files and subdirectories
Command	disconnect	Disconnects from the remote computer, retaining the ftp prompt
Command	get	Copies a single remote file to the local computer
Command	glob	Toggles filename globbing (wildcard characters) (default = ON)
Command	hash	Toggles hash sign (#) printing for each data block transferred (default = OFF)
Command	help	Displays descriptions for ftp commands

Type	Command	What it Does
Command	lcd	Changes the working directory on the local computer
Command	literal	Sends arguments, verbatim, to the remote FTP server
Command	ls	Displays an abbreviated list of a remote directory’s files and subdirectories
Command	mdelete	Deletes one or more files on a remote computer
Command	mdir	Displays a list of a remote directory’s files and subdirectories
Command	mget	Copies one or more remote files to the local computer
Command	mkdir	Creates a remote directory
Command	mls	Displays an abbreviated list of a remote directory’s files and subdirectories
Command	mput	Copies one or more local files to the remote computer
Command	open	Connects to the specified FTP server
Command	prompt	Toggles prompting (default = ON)
Command	put	Copies a single local file to the remote computer
Command	pwd	Displays the current directory on the remote computer (literally, “print working directory”)
Command	quit	Ends the FTP session with the remote computer and exits ftp (same as “bye”)
Command	quote	Sends arguments, verbatim, to the remote FTP server (same as “literal”)
Command	recv	Copies a remote file to the local computer
Command	remotehelp	Displays help for remote commands
Command	rename	Renames remote files
Command	rmdir	Deletes a remote directory
Command	send	Copies a local file to the remote computer (same as “put”)
Command	status	Displays the current status of FTP connections
Command	trace	Toggles packet tracing (default = OFF)
Command	type	Sets or displays the file transfer type (default = ASCII)
Command	user	Specifes a user to the remote computer
Command	verbose	Toggles verbose mode (default = ON)

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FTP Command Line

Type	Command	What it Does
Command Line	-v	Suppresses verbose display of remote server responses.
Command Line	-n	Suppresses auto login
Command Line	-i	Turns off interactive prompting during multiple file transfers.
Command Line	-d	Enables debugging, displaying all ftp commands passed between the client and server.
Command Line	–g	Disables filename globbing, which permits the use of wildcard chracters in local file and path names.
Command Line	-s:filename	Specifies a text file containing ftp commands; the commands will automatically run after ftp starts. No spaces are allowed in this parameter. Use this switch instead of redirection (>).
Command Line	-a	Use any local interface when binding data connection.
Command Line	-w:windowsize	Overrides the default transfer buffer size of 4096.
Command Line	-computer	Specifies the computer name or IP address of the remote computer to connect to. The computer, if specified, must be the last parameter on the line.

Sources: Internal SmartFile I.T. and Wikipedia