WinSCP: The server rejected SFTP connection, but it listens for FTP

ftp sftp winscp
user3548593 picture user3548593 · Apr 23, 2014 · Viewed 29.1k times · Source

I am using the WinSCP in order to download files using FTP protocol.

I got this error in the XML log. Any idea?

Network error: Connection to "example.com" refused. The server rejected SFTP connection, but it listens for FTP connections.

Did you want to use FTP protocol instead of SFTP? Prefer using encryption.

Answer

Martin Prikryl picture Martin Prikryl · Apr 23, 2014

WinSCP uses SFTP protocol by default, contrary to most other file transfer clients, which use FTP protocol.

For this reason, when you try to connect using the default SFTP protocol to a server that does not have an SSH/SFTP service (does not have a port 22 open), but it has an FTP service (a port 21 open), it suggests you that you might have actually wanted to use the FTP.

You need to select the FTP protocol explicitly on Login dialog:
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/ui_login

For more details:
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/message_server_rejected_sftp_listens_for_ftp

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