Visitor

 • 

4 Messages

Saturday, October 11th, 2025

FTP File Problems

Hello Xfinity.

I am having trouble connecting to an FTP server via FileZilla, using Port 21. I've tried to use port forwarding to make sure my desktop allows forwarding through, but this didn't work. The weirdest thing is that, I can connect to the FTP server via my iPhone personal hotspot, but not the main Xfinity network. I've also tried to see if there was anything in the default gateway settings but nothing showed up.

What would be the best solution to this? Is there something wrong? I need help on this. Thanks!

Oldest First
Selected Oldest First

Official Employee

 • 

635 Messages

20 hours ago

Hello @EthanETR, thanks for reaching out. I'm happy to help you with your FTP connection issue. It's interesting that it works on your phone's hotspot but not your home network, and that's a key clue in figuring out what's going on. 

Here's what we can do to troubleshoot this:

 

Check FileZilla for passive mode: The most likely reason for this issue is how your FTP client and your Xfinity network are interacting. Your home network is protected by a firewall built into your Xfinity gateway, and this can sometimes cause problems with "active mode" FTP connections. The solution is to switch FileZilla to "passive mode." Passive mode has the client initiate both the control and data connections, which is more firewall-friendly.

 

In FileZilla, you can switch to passive mode by going to Edit > Settings.

In the settings window, go to the Connection > FTP tab.

Under "Transfer Mode," select Passive (recommended) and click OK.

 

Let me know if passive mode works.

Visitor

 • 

4 Messages

Hi @XfinityQuemekia​ !

Thanks for the reply! Transfer mode is, and has always been on passive mode. Despite this always being on passive mode, I have gotten into the same problems as before; works via my hotspot, but not on the Xfinity connection. 

In addition I've also tried other solutions, including finding any settings within the default gateway, using port forwarding via the Xfinity App, configuring the Windows firewall, among others, but all of which have been dead ends. The weird thing is, a few friends I know also have the server privileges and they can connect without any problems, including one that used to have Xfinity, (since changed), and not have any problems, yet for some reason I'm the only one who is still having problems getting ETIMEDOUT errors if I connect via the main Xfinity Network.

I of course tried to narrow the culprit down to the firewall, but this was dismissed, so now the only other possible culprit that I can't connect on the main Xfinity network is some FTP setting that I can't change or find, otherwise I don't know what else it could be.

Thanks for replying though! [Edited: "Personal Information"]

(edited)

Visitor

 • 

4 Messages

@XfinityEricB​ Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately, the link you provided to me results in a "Server Not Found" error. Could you edit or try again? In addition, I may look into seeing if the port trigger is the culprit. Thanks!

EDIT: I went into the gateway administrator settings, into port triggering, added a port trigger, inputted the name of the service, chose TCP, and made the trigger and target ports just 21, but it still won't let me connect to the server via FileZilla. It still gives me the ETIMEDOUT error.

(edited)

Official Employee

 • 

1K Messages

My apologies @EthanETR try this link:

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/wireless-gateway-port-triggering

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Visitor

 • 

4 Messages

@XfinityJoe​ Thanks for correcting the link! This unfortunately didn't solve anything as I'm still getting an ETIMEDOUT error, even though the trigger and target ports are and at 21. So I'm not sure where to go from here.

Official Employee

 • 

2.3K Messages

 

EthanETR thank you for letting us know. Being 100% transparent our support with port triggering and port forward is very limited and other than providing the information in the link above that is where our support ends. Thank you for understanding. 

 

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

forum icon

New to the Community?

Start Here