FTP uses separate command and data connections. A login can succeed while directory listings or transfers stall if the data connection is blocked by NAT or a firewall.
- Confirm the FTP hostname, username, and port are correct.
- Switch the FTP client to passive mode when connecting through NAT/firewalls; cPanel documents that passive mode has the client initiate both connections and is commonly more compatible with NAT.
- Check whether the failure occurs during login or only when listing/transferring files.
- Use cPanel FTP Connections to review active sessions when that interface is available.
- Prefer SFTP when the hosting account provides SSH/SFTP access because it encrypts credentials and data in a single SSH-based connection.
Firewall port ranges and FTP-server configuration can be server-controlled, so an account-level client setting may be the only adjustable part of the path.
