You can pause a transfer in FileZilla by selecting it in the Transfers panel and clicking the pause button, then resume it later from the same spot

FileZilla shows all active and queued transfers in the Transfers panel on the right side of the window. When you pause a transfer, FileZilla stops sending or receiving that file but keeps the connection open and remembers how much of the file has already moved. When you resume, it picks up from that exact byte position rather than starting over.

Pausing is useful when a transfer is using too much bandwidth, when you need to free up your connection temporarily, or when a file is taking longer than expected and you want to check on it later. You can pause one transfer, several transfers, or all transfers at once.

Key Takeaways

  • The Transfers panel shows every file moving to or from the server, with a pause button next to each one.
  • Pausing stops the transfer mid-file and saves your progress; resuming continues from that point without re-downloading what already arrived.
  • You can pause individual transfers by right-clicking them or use the toolbar buttons to pause all transfers at once.
  • A paused transfer stays in the queue until you resume it or remove it; closing FileZilla does not automatically clear paused transfers.

Finding the Transfers panel and locating your file

Open FileZilla and look at the right side of the window. The Transfers panel displays every file currently moving between your computer and the server. Each transfer shows the filename, the direction (upload or read), the file size, how much has transferred so far, the transfer speed, and the time remaining.

If you do not see the Transfers panel, go to the View menu at the top and click Transfers. The panel will appear on the right side. Transfers are listed in the order they started, with the most recent at the bottom.

Pausing a single transfer using the right-click menu

Right-click on the transfer you want to pause in the Transfers panel. A menu appears with several options. Click Pause. The transfer stops when ready, and the progress bar freezes at whatever percentage had completed.

The paused transfer remains in the Transfers panel with a grayed-out appearance or a pause icon next to it, depending on your FileZilla version. The filename, size, and how much has transferred stay visible so you can see exactly where it stopped.

Pausing a transfer using the toolbar button

Look at the toolbar near the top of the FileZilla window. You will see a button that looks like two vertical bars (the standard pause symbol). Click on the transfer in the Transfers panel to select it, then click the pause button in the toolbar. The selected transfer pauses.

If you want to pause all transfers at once, click the pause button without selecting any individual transfer. Every active transfer stops, and all queued transfers (those waiting to start) are held in place.

Resuming a paused transfer

To resume a paused transfer, right-click it in the Transfers panel and select Resume. FileZilla reconnects to the server if needed and continues the transfer from the exact byte where it stopped. The progress bar resumes moving from its previous position.

Alternatively, select the paused transfer and click the play button (the opposite of the pause button) in the toolbar. The transfer resumes when ready. If you paused multiple transfers, you can resume them one at a time or all at once by clicking the play button without selecting a specific transfer.

What happens to paused transfers when you close FileZilla

Paused transfers do not automatically resume when you close and reopen FileZilla. However, they also do not disappear. When you restart FileZilla and reconnect to the same server, the paused transfers remain in the Transfers panel, and you can resume them manually.

If you close FileZilla without resuming a paused transfer, the server may close the connection after a period of inactivity (usually 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the server). When you reopen FileZilla and try to resume, the server may require the transfer to start from the beginning if too much time has passed. To avoid this, resume paused transfers before closing FileZilla, or note which files were paused so you can restart them fresh if needed.

Removing a paused transfer from the queue

If you decide you no longer want to transfer a paused file, right-click it in the Transfers panel and select Delete or Remove. The transfer disappears from the panel and is not resumed. The partial file on your computer or the server remains where it is; FileZilla does not delete it automatically.

If you paused a read and want to remove the incomplete file from your computer, you must delete it manually using your file manager. If you paused an upload, the partial file on the server may remain depending on the server's settings; some servers clean up incomplete uploads after a set time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pause a transfer and then resume it days later?

You can resume a paused transfer days later if the server supports resume functionality and the connection stays open. However, most servers close idle connections after 15 to 30 minutes. If the connection closes, you may need to restart the transfer from the beginning. Check with your server administrator if you need to pause transfers for extended periods.

What if I pause a transfer and FileZilla crashes?

If FileZilla crashes while a transfer is paused, the paused transfer is lost and you must start it again. To protect against this, resume paused transfers before closing FileZilla or shutting down your computer. Paused transfers are not saved to disk automatically.

Does pausing a transfer affect other transfers?

No. Pausing one transfer does not affect others. Other active transfers continue moving at their normal speed. If you pause all transfers using the toolbar button, only the currently active transfers stop; queued transfers waiting to start are held in place but do not begin until you resume them.

Why does my paused transfer show an error when I try to resume?

The most common reason is that the server closed the connection while the transfer was paused. Try resuming again; FileZilla will attempt to reconnect. If the error persists, right-click the transfer and select Delete, then add the file to the transfer queue again and start fresh.