Ftp error failed to retrieve directory listing

Are you getting an error like “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” when you try to access FTP server remotely?

This error is caused due to the bad settings in the FTP server, misconfiguration of FTP client, when passive mode setting disables and much more.

That’s why we often get requests from our customers to solve the error like “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” as part of our Server Management Services.

Today, we’ll see how our Support Engineers fixed the issue for our customers.

What is “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” error?

This error “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” means that the user could not access the files from FTP server.

Users encounter an error message like this.

Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

Now, let’s see the reasons for the error and the real solution to fix it.

Top 4 reasons and solutions to fix it

Here, we have the top 4 reasons for this error to occur and how we troubleshoot it.

1. Wrong encryption settings in FTP client

For instance, in FileZilla, when you connect to FTP server, you will see something like this.

Response: 227 Entering Passive Mode (11,22,33,44,167,111)
Command: MLSD
Error: Connection timed out
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

This happens when encryption is set to “Use explicit FTP over TLS if available” in FTP client settings.

So, we changed the encryption to “only use plain FTP” by executing the below steps.

1. First, we click on the File menu and choose Site Manager.

2. Then add Host and change Encryption to only use plain FTP.

3. Also, change the Logon Type to Normal and enter Username and Password.

4. Finally, click Connect to continue.

2. Problem with Passive mode

FTP operates in both active and passive mode. By default, FTP clients like FileZilla, CuteFTP uses passive as transfer mode.

But, in some cases, you may get an error like “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” in passive mode. Then, try to change the default transfer mode by simply doing the steps below.

1. Go to Settings > Edit and click on Connection > FTP and choose Active.

2. Then under Active mode IP > select Ask your operating system for the external IP address.

3. Finally, under Passive mode > choose Fall back to active mode and click ok to save.

3. Missing passive port range in FTP server

In most of the cases “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” error happens when passive port range is not mentioned FTP server configuration.

In cPanel for FTP servers like PureFTP, we perform the following steps.

1. We log in to the server via SSH.

2. Open the /var/cpanel/conf/pureftpd/local file and we add the entry like:

ForcePassiveIP: X.X.X.X

We add these changes to the file because FTP server exists behind the firewall.

3. Then we change the server’s default passive port range, by running the command.

echo "PassivePortRange: 49152 65534" >> /var/cpanel/conf/pureftpd/local
/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/setupftpserver pure-ftpd --force

4. Next, we configure the server to allow the passive port range to pass through the firewall.

5. Finally, restart the PureFTP service.

/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/setupftpserver pure-ftpd --force

4. Lacking Port range in firewall settings

Often this error happens when a firewall blocks passive FTP ports. So, it results in getting an error like “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing”.

We execute the following steps to add the passive port range to the firewall.

1. For firewall like iptables, we open the /etc/sysconfig/iptables file in a text editor.

2. Then add the entry like:

iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 49152:65534 -j ACCEPT

3. Finally, run the command to save.

service iptables save

This is how we fix the error like “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing”.

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Conclusion

In short, “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” error can happen due to a misconfiguration in firewall settings, incorrect passive port range, and more. Today, we’ve discussed the top 4 reasons for this error and how our Technical Engineers fixed them.

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Watch this video for a step by step process on how to Fix Failed to Retrieve Directory Listing Error in FileZilla FTP

While using FileZilla for connecting to your FTP you might get an error as below:

There can be different reasons for this error to occur and also different solutions for it.

This error can be easily fixed by going into the Site Manager and using plain FTP by adjusting your connection details.

1. Wrong Encryption Settings in FTP Client

For example, while using FileZilla, when you connect to FTP server you might get an error as below:

This error occurs when encryption is set to “Use explicit FTP over TLS if available” in FTP client settings.

Check the steps below to fix the problem:

1. Go to FileZilla, click on “File” menu and select “Site Manager”.

2. If the site or server you want to connect to isn’t already mentioned in site manager, add it.

a. Add hostname.
b. Make the Encryption to “Only use plain FTP”.
c. Change logon type to “Normal”.
d. Enter username/password.
e. Ok/Connect to continue.

In case you are still getting the error, disable your firewall then try once more!

2. Problem with Passive mode

FTP works in both active and passive mode. FTP clients like FileZilla, CuteFTP, etc. use passive mode for transfer. But sometimes you may get an error such as “FTP can’t retrieve directory listing” in passive mode, then follow the below steps to resolve the error:

• Open Filezilla, click on Edit -> Settings.
• Next, click on Connection -> FTP: Select Active.
• Click on Connection -> FTP -> Active Mode: Choose “Ask your operating system for the external IP address”.
• Click on Connection -> FTP -> Passive Mode: Select Fall Back to Active Mode
• Press OK.

Try connecting to your FTP again!

3. Missing Passive Port Range in FTP Server

In most of the cases “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing” error occurs when passive port range is not mentioned FTP server configuration.

In cPanel for FTP servers like PureFTP, follow the below steps.

1. Log in to the server via SSH.

2. Open the /var/cpanel/conf/pureftpd/local file and add the entry as below:

These changes are then added to the file because FTP server exists behind the firewall.

3. Then change the server’s default passive port range, by running the below command:

4. Next, configure the server so that the passive port range will pass through the firewall.

5. Lastly, restart the PureFTP service.

4. Lacking Port Range in Firewall Settings

This error usually occurs when a firewall blocks passive FTP ports.

Check the following steps to add the passive port range to the firewall to solve this error:

1. For firewall like iptables, open the /etc/sysconfig/iptables file in a text editor.

2. Then add the entry as below:

3. Lastly, run the below command to save.

In this way, you can fix the error like “FTP cannot retrieve directory listing”.

Also Read:
Steps to Display Hidden Files on Your FTP Client

How to Create and Edit a File via FTP?

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You cannot connect via FTP; the server accepts your username and password, but it fails when you request a directory or wait for a welcome message.

An error such as one of the following may appear: 

• Unable to build data connection: Connection timed out
• MLSD: Connection timed out
• [R] List Error
• Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

FileZilla is free software, there are two versions, FileZilla Client and FileZilla Server. The client is supported on all platforms, but the server only supports Windows. This application is used to transfer files between computers on a network. Recently, however, there have been many reports in which users trying to connect to the server have found the error “Failed to Retrieve Directory Listing”.

How to fix directory listing errors that fail in FileZilla FTP?

You can easily solve this problem by going to the Site Manager and adjusting your login data to use simple FTP. Follow these steps to solve the problem:

1. In FileZilla, click on the File menu and select Site Manager.
2. Add the website or server to which you want to connect, if it is not already present in Site Manager.
3. Add a host name
4. Change the encryption to “Use normal FTP only
5. Change the connection type “Normal
6. Enter the username/password.
7. Ok/Connection to continue

Disable the System Firewall

If such problems occur while it is working for one instance, but not for another – in this case FTP works locally, but not remotely – the first thing you should try is to disable the firewall to see if it makes a difference. If you are using the Windows firewall, disable it and you can connect to the FTP server remotely via the system.

Send the PASV command to the server.

When you send the port command to your server, ask the server to connect to you (in the remote network). If the remote network also has a NAT router and you have not redirected the port you are sending with your PORT command, the server cannot reach you.

The most common solution would be to send the PASV command to the server instead of the PORT command. The PASV command prompts the server to create a listening record and accept a connection from the remote computer to establish the data connection.

For the PASV command to work, you must also forward a number of ports for passive data connections. Passive connection ports (which must be forwarded) must be listed in the FileZilla documentation.

Change the transfer method to Active.

To resolve this FTP error, do the following:

1. Open Filezilla, go to Edit -> Settings
2. Click on Connection -> FTP : Select On.
3. Click on Connection -> FTP -> Active mode: select “Request external IP address from your operating system”.
4. Click on Connection -> FTP -> Passive mode: Select Return to active mode.

CONCLUSION

In short, the FTP error “could not retrieve the list of directories” in cPanel occurs due to server firewall restrictions, FTP client settings and more.

https://forum.filezilla-project.org/viewtopic.php?t=7315

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