Eldernode / Tutorials / How to Install FTP Server on Windows Server 2019

How to Install FTP Server on Windows Server 2019 [Step-by-Step]

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6 Min Read

2025/10/20

How to install FTP Server on Windows Server 2019, if you’ve ever tried to move files between two systems on a Windows network, you’ve probably run into this need. FTP is one of those old but still-useful tools that just works when you want a simple way to upload or grab files remotely. It runs over TCP/IP and lets you manage folders between machines without messing with shared drives or complicated scripts.

Windows Server doesn’t have FTP running by default, but the good news is it’s already built into IIS you just need to turn it on. In this quick guide, I’ll show you how to install and enable FTP Server on Windows Server 2019 step by step, using the built-in Server Manager.

If you don’t have a test environment yet, you can spin up a Windows VPS from Eldernode it’s ready in minutes and works perfectly for trying this setup safely before doing it on production.

Install FTP Server on windows server 2019

Step 1: Open Server Manager

In the first step, press the Windows button and search for Server Manager. Then click Add Roles and Features.

How to Open Server Manager on windows 2019

open server manager iis

Step 2: Open the Add Roles and Features windows

On the “Add Roles and Features Wizard” page, simply click “OK” to continue.

Best way to Open the Add Roles and Features windows

Step 3: Choose Installation Types

When you reach the “Installation type” page, select “Role-based or feature-based installation” and click “Next”.

Choose Installation Types in iis

Step 4: Select the Target Server

Select the server where you want to install FTP (NFS in the original wizard) and click “Next”.

Step 5: Enable Web Server (IIS)

On the Server Roles page, Select Web Server (IIS) checkbox and click on Add Features in the pop-up that will come up as shown below. Then click Next.

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Step 6: Skip Optional Features

In the “Select Features” step, just click “Next”, and again click “Next” on the “Web Server Role (IIS)” page.

how to select optional features

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web server roles in iis

Step 7: Select Role Services

On the Role Services page select File Server one and hit Next. Then click on Install and wait for your server to finish up installing.

How to Select Role Services

Step 8: Install the FTP Server

At this point, just click “Install.” Sit back for a minute while Windows adds the FTP components. Once completed, you’ll see the confirmation screen showing that the FTP components have been installed successfully.

Install the FTP Server on eldernode windows vps

Tips:

FTP uses port 21 by default, so make sure it’s open in your firewall.

You can test the connection using an FTP client like FileZilla by entering your server IP.

Conclusion

So yeah… that’s about it.

Your FTP Server should be alive on Windows Server 2019 by now. If you can connect through FileZilla or even your browser and see the directory, that means you did it right. I’d still say before you give anyone access check the permissions once more. Windows loves to hide small gotchas that break later.

I’ll probably write the next bit soon, about the configuration stuff users, folders, and access rules.

If you ran into something weird, drop a comment. I’ve been through most of the usual errors by now.

Oh, and if you’re just testing this out and don’t want to mess with your main server, spin up a quick Windows VPS from Eldernode. It takes a few minutes and behaves almost the same as a real box.

Let me know in the comments if it worked for you I’d love to hear.

Anyway, good luck and don’t forget to back up before experimenting too much.

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2025-07-16