The FTP server on lot of web hosts is configured for FTP Over Explicit TLS/SSL. This is when you start getting weird errors when you try logging into a FTP server of such a domain without specifying proper protocols. One of these errors is "421, Sorry Cleartext Sessions Are Not Accepted On This Server". And what you get next is an unsuccessful login. In this article we will tell you how to avoid these errors.

"421 Cleartext Sessions Not Supported" Error in Filezilla

There are two ways of solving this problem.

Method 1: Add ftpes:// as the protocol before the host name

ftpes happens to be the protocol for FTP Over Explicit TLS/SSL. So in order to get rid of the "Cleartext Sessions not allowed" error just prefix ftpes:// as the protocol before your hostname and then login with your credentials. You might receive a dialog box asking you to confirm the security certificates. Once you confirm it, you will then be able to log into the server without any error.

Adding ftpes protocol in Filezilla host

Method 2: Setting FTPES protocol from Servertype

The protocol for FTP Over Explicit TLS/SSL can also be speceified as an option in Filezilla. When you set your hostname and enter your credentials, you will find an option called Servertype in the same dialog box. Now select "FTPES - FTP Over Explicit TLS/SSL" from the drop down menu and then click on connect. You might receive a dialog box asking you to confirm the security certificates. Once you confirm it, you will then be able to log into the server without any error.

Set FTPES protocol from the Servertyp dropdown in Filezilla