CURLOPT\_FTP\_USE\_PRET(3) Library Functions Manual CURLOPT\_FTP\_USE\_PRET(3)

# [NAME](#NAME)

CURLOPT\_FTP\_USE\_PRET - use PRET for FTP

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
CURLcode curl_easy_setopt(CURL *handle, CURLOPT_FTP_USE_PRET, long enable);
```

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Pass a long. If the value is 1, it tells curl to send a PRET command before PASV (and EPSV). Certain FTP servers, mainly drftpd, require this non-standard command for directory listings as well as up and downloads in PASV mode. Has no effect when using the active FTP transfers mode.

# [DEFAULT](#DEFAULT)

0

# [PROTOCOLS](#PROTOCOLS)

This functionality affects ftp only

# [EXAMPLE](#EXAMPLE)

```
int main(void)
{


  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();


  if(curl) {


    CURLcode result;


    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_URL,


                     "ftp://example.com/old-server/file.txt");


    /* a drftpd server, do it */


    curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_FTP_USE_PRET, 1L);


    result = curl_easy_perform(curl);


    curl_easy_cleanup(curl);


  }
}
```

# [AVAILABILITY](#AVAILABILITY)

Added in curl 7.20.0

# [RETURN VALUE](#RETURN_VALUE)

[*curl\_easy\_setopt(3)*](/man/os/curl/curl_easy_setopt.3) returns a CURLcode indicating success or error.

CURLE\_OK (0) means everything was OK, non-zero means an error occurred, see [*libcurl-errors(3)*](/man/os/curl/libcurl-errors.3).

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**CURLOPT\_FTP\_USE\_EPRT**(3)](/man/os/curl/CURLOPT_FTP_USE_EPRT.3), [**CURLOPT\_FTP\_USE\_EPSV**(3)](/man/os/curl/CURLOPT_FTP_USE_EPSV.3)

2026-10-01 libcurl

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Document: CURLOPT_FTP_USE_PRET(3) from curl 8.22.0-r4 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/curl/curl.git