How to Use FTP to Transfer Files to and From Android Phone
When it comes to smartphones, you probably think of standards like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC (Near Field Communication) before the old technology of FTP (File Transfer Protocol) comes to mind. FTP has been around since the 1970s and is most often associated with ancient data servers and huge mainframe computers.
However, despite its age, FTP still finds use on modern devices. Specifically, it is an easy and fast way to move files between your Android phone and computer. There are many other ways to do this, but FTP is definitely worth a look – it’s easy to set up and won’t cost you anything.
You’ll find that most third-party file managers for Android have FTP support, so you may want to browse through them and see which one works best for you. Here I’m going to use the Amaze file manager, which is lightweight, intuitive, and free to use in terms of FTP features (you can pay extra if you need to add cloud storage as well).
Starting
Download and install Amaze File Manager from the Google Play Store, and you’ll need to give it permission to access your Android device’s file system—an important privilege for the app that manages your files. After that, it will quickly identify all the files and folders on your phone and display them on the screen.
You’ll see that the app takes a simple approach to displaying your files: By default, you’re shown the main file system folder, and you can click on any folder to move it. Use the main menu button (three lines at the top left) to quickly access folders such as Pictures and Documents, and the secondary menu button (three dots at the top right) to change how files are sorted on the screen and view your browsing history.
There are also search and home buttons at the top to help you navigate. When it comes to working with FTP, we can use the Amaze file manager to create an FTP server on your phone – it’s simply a file storage facility that uses recognized FTP transfer standards, which other computers and devices can then connect to.
Click the menu button (top left), then select FTP Server . On the next screen, select “Start” to start the server: the screen will display information about connecting to the server. If you think other people connected to your home Wi-Fi network might also try to connect to your phone, you can set up a username and password required to sign in – tap the three dots (top right) and then sign in to do this.
Transferring files
If you have an FTP server enabled on your phone, you’ll need to access it from your computer. There are several ways to do this, including installing a dedicated FTP application, but since this functionality is built into File Explorer in Windows and Finder in macOS, these are the easiest ways to do it.
If you’re using Windows, open File Explorer, right-click the This PC entry in the left navigation pane, then select Add a network location . Follow the quick setup wizard, which will ask you to enter your FTP server address and login credentials, if necessary. Your Android phone’s file system will then appear in File Explorer and can be used like any other folder.
On macOS, you need to launch Finder, open the Go menu, and select Connect to Server . Enter your FTP details as they appear in the Amaze file manager, click Connect , and you will find yourself connected. You can then access your Android phone like any other folder: you can move files between your computer and phone, create folders, etc.
If you have any problems, on the FTP Server page in Amaze File Manager, tap the three dots (top right), then uncheck the box that says “Secure Connection” – this will make it a little easier to connect Windows and macOS, and there may be a step that needed depending on how your home network is configured. You will need to stop and restart the FTP server for the changes to take effect.