FTP Accounts Do Not Work After FileZilla Upgrade

After upgrading FileZilla to version 3.10 or later, you may find that your FTP accounts no longer connect properly. Instead, you might see errors such as:

Error: Connection timed out
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

This article explains why this happens and how to resolve it.

Problem

• FileZilla version 3.10 introduced a change that forces TLS encryption on plain FTP connections.
• This affects both new site entries you create in Site Manager and existing saved sites.
• As a result, connections that previously worked with plain FTP may now fail.

Note: This issue does not affect SFTP connections. If you use SFTP, your connections will continue to work normally.

Resolution

To fix this issue, you need to adjust the encryption settings in FileZilla:

1. Open FileZilla.

2. Go to File → Site Manager.

3. Under Select Entry, choose the site you want to fix.

4. On the General tab, find the Encryption dropdown.

5. Change the setting to:

   • Only use plain FTP (insecure) — if you want to continue using unencrypted FTP.
   • Or, preferably, switch to Require explicit FTP over TLS for secure connections (recommended).

6. Click OK to save your changes.

7. Reconnect to your site.

Best Practice: Use SFTP

While you can continue using plain FTP, Ruachost strongly recommends using SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) instead:

• It encrypts both your login credentials and file transfers.
• It avoids compatibility issues introduced by FileZilla updates.
• It uses the same login details as your SSH/cPanel account.