When connecting to a cPanel server using FileZilla or another FTP client, you may encounter the error:<\/p>\n
Failed to retrieve directory listing<\/p>\n
In many cases, this issue occurs when the server is configured behind a NAT environment and the ForcePassiveIP<\/strong> value in the Pure-FTPd configuration is incorrect. Since FTP passive mode relies on the correct public IP address, an invalid setting can prevent directory listings from loading successfully.<\/p>\n This article explains how to identify and fix the issue and make the configuration persistent across future cPanel updates.<\/p>\n The Pure-FTPd service uses the ForcePassiveIP<\/strong> directive to advertise the server’s public IP address during passive FTP connections.<\/p>\n If:<\/p>\n FTP clients may connect successfully but fail when attempting to retrieve directory listings.<\/p>\n Edit the Pure-FTPd configuration file:<\/p>\n Locate and update:<\/p>\n Replace Restart the Pure-FTPd service:<\/p>\n Test the FTP connection again using FileZilla.<\/p>\n The configuration in To make the change persistent, update the cPanel-managed configuration file:<\/p>\n Set the correct public IP:<\/p>\n Save the file and rebuild the configuration if required, then restart the Pure-FTPd service.<\/p>\n After updating the configuration:<\/p>\n The “Failed to retrieve directory listing” error in Pure-FTPd is commonly caused by an incorrect ForcePassiveIP<\/strong> configuration, especially on servers operating behind NAT. Updating the correct public IP address and making the change in the cPanel-managed configuration ensures that FTP connections continue to work even after future cPanel upgrades.<\/p>\n 1. Why does FileZilla show “Failed to retrieve directory listing”?<\/strong><\/p>\n This typically occurs when Passive FTP mode cannot establish a data connection due to an incorrect ForcePassiveIP setting, firewall restrictions, or NAT-related networking issues.<\/p>\n 2. Will cPanel updates overwrite Pure-FTPd configuration changes?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes. Direct modifications to 3. How can I verify the correct ForcePassiveIP value?<\/strong><\/p>\n Use the server’s public IP address that FTP clients use to connect. If the server is behind NAT, configure the externally accessible public IP rather than the private internal address.<\/p>\nCause<\/h2>\n
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Temporary Fix<\/h2>\n
vi \/etc\/pure-ftpd.conf<\/code><\/pre>\nForcePassiveIP xx.xx.xx.xx<\/code><\/pre>\nxx.xx.xx.xx<\/code> with the correct public IP address.<\/p>\nsystemctl restart pure-ftpd<\/code><\/pre>\nPermanent Fix<\/h2>\n
\/etc\/pure-ftpd.conf<\/code> may be overwritten during cPanel updates.<\/p>\nvi \/var\/cpanel\/conf\/pureftpd\/main<\/code><\/pre>\nForcePassiveIP: xx.xx.xx.xx<\/code><\/pre>\nsystemctl restart pure-ftpd<\/code><\/pre>\nVerification<\/h2>\n
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Conclusion<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
\/etc\/pure-ftpd.conf<\/code> can be overwritten during cPanel updates. Use \/var\/cpanel\/conf\/pureftpd\/main<\/code> for persistent configuration changes.<\/p>\nRelated Articles<\/h2>\n