AutoFTP Guide: Schedule FTP / SFTP Downloads on Windows

2026-07-07

  • AutoFTP
  • FTP
  • scheduled download
  • SFTP
  • Windows
  • tutorial

When AutoFTP helps

Typical use cases:

  • A vendor drops daily Excel reports on FTP — you want them on disk at 08:00
  • Log backups live on SFTP and must sync to an internal folder on weekdays
  • Manual downloads are repetitive and local folders keep growing

AutoFTP is a ComTools Windows desktop utility for FTP, FTPS (TLS), and SFTP with scheduled jobs and run history.

AutoFTP main window

Download AutoFTP.exe

UI overview

Area Purpose
Left task list Multiple jobs — add, duplicate, delete
Center panel Connection, paths, schedule, filters, cleanup
Right history Per-run log for troubleshooting

The toolbar offers Download now, Save task, plus theme and language settings.

Step 1: Download and launch

  1. Open Downloads or the AutoFTP product page.
  2. Download AutoFTP.exe.
  3. Run it; switch language from the Language menu if needed.

Keep the app in a stable folder (e.g. D:\Tools\AutoFTP\) and avoid temp directories for local save paths.

Step 2: Connection

Under Connection (FTP / FTPS / SFTP):

  1. Pick FTPS (TLS) or SFTP per server policy.
  2. Set Host and Port (21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP common).
  3. Enter Username and Password.
  4. Click Test connection before saving.

Common failures: firewall blocks, passive mode, insufficient account permissions.

Step 3: Paths

  • Remote path — server folder, e.g. /reports/daily/
  • Local path — Windows folder, e.g. D:\FTP\reports\

Use Browse for local path. Ensure the Windows user running AutoFTP can write there.

Step 4: Schedule

Option Example Notes
Daily times 08:00,18:00 Comma-separated
Weekdays Mon–Fri Optional restriction
Days of month 1,15 Monthly runs
Next run Auto Preview after save

Check Enable task and Save task for scheduled runs.

Step 5: Download filters (optional)

  • Download latest N files — only newest remote files
  • Compare by size — skip when local copy matches
  • Min / Max (KB) — ignore tiny or huge files

Useful when remote folders accumulate dated files and you only need recent ones.

Step 6: Local cleanup (optional)

  • Delete older than (days)
  • Keep latest (count)

Align retention with policy: 90 days for finance reports, 7 days for debug logs.

Manual runs and troubleshooting

  • Save task after edits, then Download now to verify.
  • Check Download history on failure.
  • Scheduled runs require the PC awake at trigger time.

Example scenarios

Daily report at 08:00

  • Daily times: 08:00
  • Compare by size: on
  • Local: D:\Data\DailyReport\

Weekly SFTP log sync

  • Protocol: SFTP
  • Weekdays: Monday only
  • Daily times: 06:00
  • Cleanup: delete older than 30 days

AutoFTP moves files locally; process them with Excel Merge, Excel to SQL, and other online tools.

Feedback welcome on Messages.