---
title: "FTP & Telnet"
aliases:
    - gettingstarted/programming/ftp.html
    - gettingstarted/programming/ftp.md
    - chapter/gettingstarted/programming/ftp
---

This page discusses the possibility to upload files through the internal FTP server and access the REPL through a Telnet connection. Using this method as the single option to connect to the device is not advisable, as unexpected crashes and changes in the wifi settings might lock you out. 

There is a small internal file system accessible with each Pycom device, called `/flash`. This is stored within the external serial flash memory. If a microSD card is also connected and mounted, it will be available as well. When the device starts up, it will always boot from the `boot.py` located in the `/flash` file system.

By default, the device will create a WiFi access point with the following credentials:
* SSID: `xxpy-wlan-####`
* Password: `www.pycom.io`

If you made changes to the WiFi settings, the AP might not show up by default. You can use the following to get it back up and running:
```python
import pycom
from network import WLAN
pycom.wifi_on_boot(True)
pycom.wifi_mode_on_boot(WLAN.AP)
```
 The last 4 characters of the broadcast SSID are equal to the last 4 characters of the `unique_id()`:
```python
import machine
import ubinascii
ubinascii.hexlify(machine.unique_id())
```

> You can find the methods to change the default settings [here](/firmwareapi/pycom/pycom/#boot-methods)


The file system is accessible via the native FTP server running on each Pycom device. Open a FTP client and connect to:

* url: `ftp://192.168.4.1`
* username: `micro`
* password: `python`

See [network.server](/firmwareapi/pycom/network/server/) for information on how to change the default credentials. 

The recommended clients are:
* macOS/Linux: default FTP client
* Windows: Filezilla and FireFTP

For example, from a macOS/Linux terminal:

```bash
$ ftp 192.168.4.1
```

The FTP server doesn't support active mode, only passive mode. Therefore, if using the native unix FTP client, immediately after logging in, run the following command:

```bash
ftp> passive
```

The FTP server only supports one connection at a time. If using other FTP clients, please check their documentation for how to limit the maximum allowed connections to one at a time.

## FileZilla

If using FileZilla, it's important to configure the settings correctly.

Do not use the quick connect button. Instead, open the site manager and create a new configuration. Within the `General` tab, ensure that encryption is set to: `Only use plain FTP (insecure)`.

![](/gitbook/assets/filezilla-settings-1.png)

In the `Transfer Settings` tab, limit the max number of connections to one. Other FTP clients may behave in a similar ways; visit their documentation for more specific information.

![](/gitbook/assets/filezilla-settings-2.png)