Having trouble with SFTP/FTP Storage in Duplicator Pro? This guide provides practical solutions to troubleshoot and resolve the issues effectively.

Before troubleshooting further, confirm you’re on the latest version of Duplicator Pro. Check the changelog and system requirements, then click Test Storage on the storage entry to confirm the current settings are correct using the validation button.

Step-by-Step Guides for Storage Setup

For detailed setup instructions, see the guide below:

• User Guide for FTP and SFTP Storage

Connection Failed When clicking the Test Storage

When clicking the Test Storage button on an FTP or SFTP storage entry, the test fails or returns a file transfer error.

When the test fails, Duplicator Pro shows a Storage Status dialog. If there’s a single failure message, it’s shown directly. If there are multiple status messages, they appear in an expanded text box, read through them for the specific reason the connection failed rather than just the generic failure message.

Option 1: Double check settings and test with a client-side FTP or SFTP app

1. Double-check every FTP or SFTP setting entered in Duplicator Pro. Common mistakes include the wrong port (FTP defaults to port 21, SFTP to port 22), an incorrect remote Storage Folder path, or credentials that don’t match what the host issued.
2. If you’re using SFTP with a private key file, confirm the key file itself is valid and that its passphrase, if any, is entered correctly in the Password field.
3. If the server requires Explicit SSL (FTPS), confirm that setting is enabled in the storage entry and supported on the server. If Passive Mode is enabled and the connection still fails, a firewall on either end may be blocking the passive port range, try testing with Passive Mode toggled off.
4. Test the same credentials using an FTP or SFTP client like FileZilla, Cyberduck, or CuteFTP to confirm a successful login from an external source.
5. If neither the client nor Duplicator Pro can connect, contact your server administrator to verify the endpoint, port, and credentials.
6. If the client works but Duplicator Pro doesn’t, after adjusting a setting, save the storage entry and click Test Storage again before moving to Option 2.

Option 2: Hosted Server Connectivity Issues

If your hosting server uses different firewalls or network routes than your local computer, it may be unable to reach the FTP or SFTP endpoint even when your computer can. This includes hosts that block outbound FTP or SFTP traffic entirely.

Test locally:

If the same storage setup works from your local computer but fails from the hosted server, this points to a network-level issue on the server’s end rather than the FTP or SFTP settings themselves.

Contact your hosting provider:

Let them know the server can’t establish a connection to your FTP or SFTP endpoint, and ask them to check for outbound firewall rules or network routing issues.

Working through Option 1 and Option 2 resolves most FTP and SFTP connection failures in Duplicator Pro.

By implementing either of these solutions, you can ensure a stable and reliable connection to FTP/SFTP connections, allowing your backups to run seamlessly without interruptions.

For the full setup walkthrough, see Storing Your Backup to FTP or SFTP.