How to Transfer Files from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive in 2025

Learn how to migrate files from an FTP server to Zoho WorkDrive in 2025 using a reliable cloud-to-cloud approach, ensuring minimal downtime and preserved folder structure.

Introduction

Many teams still rely on FTP servers for file storage and distribution, especially for legacy systems, media repositories, or internal file sharing. However, as collaboration becomes more document-driven and team-oriented, traditional FTP setups often fall short in areas like permissions, version control, and real-time access. Zoho WorkDrive addresses these gaps by offering a modern collaboration platform designed for teams. This guide explains how to transfer files from an FTP server to Zoho WorkDrive efficiently, while keeping directory structures intact and avoiding unnecessary manual work.

Introducing Zoho WorkDrive Cloud Storage
Why Move from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive?
Preparing for Migration
How to Migrate Files from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive
Frequently Asked Questions
Watch Our Step-by-Step Video Tutorial

Introducing Zoho WorkDrive Cloud Storage

Zoho WorkDrive is designed for organizations that need more than just a place to store files. Rather than functioning like a traditional bucket-style archive, WorkDrive offers a productive collaboration hub where teams can create, share, and organize documents, media, and project files without workflow friction.

One of its biggest strengths is how tightly it integrates with the wider Zoho ecosystem — Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheets, and many more. For companies relying on Zoho apps, moving file storage to WorkDrive creates a unified working environment, reducing context switching and improving visibility across departments.

Team Collaboration: Shared Team Folders allow members to co-edit in real time, review changes via version history, and keep everyone aligned.
TrueSync File Access: Access cloud files directly from your desktop without consuming storage — ideal for large media libraries.
Enterprise-Grade Security: Advanced encryption, role-based permissions, and detailed admin dashboards make compliance simple.
Support for 200+ File Formats: View and preview documents, graphics, audio, and video without needing external apps.
Native Zoho Integration: Sync WorkDrive effortlessly with your daily business apps to automate file routing and approval workflows.

In short, Zoho WorkDrive creates a secure and efficient workspace where files don’t just sit — they actively support team collaboration and business processes.

Why Move from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive?

FTP has been a long-standing solution for file transfer and storage, especially in technical and enterprise environments. It works well for uploading and downloading files, but it was never designed for collaboration, version control, or team-based workflows.

No Native Collaboration: FTP lacks features such as real-time editing, comments, or shared team spaces.
Limited Visibility: User activity tracking, file history, and access auditing are difficult to manage on FTP servers.
Operational Overhead: Maintaining FTP servers often requires manual permission management and ongoing infrastructure work.

Zoho WorkDrive replaces these limitations with a collaborative workspace designed for modern teams, making it a natural upgrade path for organizations moving away from traditional FTP-based workflows.

Getting Ready for Your Transfer

Before transferring data from an FTP server to Zoho WorkDrive, it is important to review your existing directory structure and confirm that your FTP service is accessible from the public internet.

Review Folder Structure: Identify which directories should be migrated and which can remain archived.
Confirm Access: Ensure your FTP credentials have permission to read all required files.
Create a Backup: Keep a backup of critical data before starting the transfer.

How to Migrate Files from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive

Why Choose CloudsLinker for FTP-to-WorkDrive Migration?

Moving data from an FTP server into Zoho WorkDrive can be frustrating if you rely on manual download-and-upload. Large folders take time, transfers get interrupted, and it’s easy to lose track of what finished and what didn’t. CloudsLinker avoids that workflow by transferring files directly in the cloud, so your local bandwidth is not involved and the migration stays organized.

Step 1: Sign in to CloudsLinker

Visit app.cloudslinker.com and log in (or create an account). From the dashboard, click Add Cloud to start connecting your source and destination.

Step 2: Add FTP as the Source

In Add Cloud, choose FTP. Enter your FTP server address, username, and password. Your FTP server must be reachable from the public internet—CloudsLinker cannot connect to servers that are only available on a private network.

If your FTP login starts inside a specific directory, set the Access Path so CloudsLinker knows where your root folder begins. This prevents “missing folders” issues caused by an incorrect starting path.

Once confirmed, your FTP server will show up in your cloud list as a connected source.

Step 3: Add Zoho WorkDrive as the Destination

Go back to Add Cloud and select Zoho WorkDrive. Choose the correct region for your account (us, eu, jp, in, etc.), then continue through the OAuth login and grant access.

After authorization, Zoho WorkDrive will appear in your cloud list and can be selected as the transfer target.

Adding Zoho WorkDrive to CloudsLinker (region selection and OAuth)

Step 4: Create a Transfer Task

Open the Transfer section. Set FTP as the source and Zoho WorkDrive as the destination. Then browse and select the folders you want to move.

If you are migrating a large FTP directory, it’s usually better to start with one top-level folder first. Once you confirm everything lands correctly in WorkDrive, you can continue with the remaining folders.

Initiating the FTP to Zoho WorkDrive transfer in CloudsLinker

Step 5: Configure Transfer Options

Before starting, review the transfer options. Depending on your workflow, you may want to:

Choose Copy or Move mode (copy is safer for the first run).
Handle duplicates by skipping existing files or overwriting.
Filter file types (for example: only PDFs, only media files, or exclude archives).
Schedule the task (daily/weekly/monthly) if you want migration to run automatically.

Once your settings are ready, click Start Transfer to launch the job.

Step 6: Monitor Progress in Tasks

Go to the Tasks section to track progress. You can review status, see current throughput, and manage the job if you need to pause or resume.

If something fails, check the task error details first. FTP issues are often caused by incorrect credentials, missing permissions, an incorrect Access Path, or the FTP server being unreachable from the public internet.

Step 7: Verify Results in Zoho WorkDrive

After completion, open Zoho WorkDrive and spot-check several folders and files. Confirm that:

Folder structure matches what you selected on FTP.
File counts look reasonable for key directories.
Sample files open correctly.

If a particular folder needs to be re-transferred, rerun a targeted task for that folder instead of restarting everything.

With a clear task flow and cloud-based transfers, CloudsLinker makes FTP-to-WorkDrive migration easier to manage, especially when dealing with large folders or repeated transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. CloudsLinker connects to your FTP server from the cloud, so the server must be reachable from the public internet. If the server is only available on a private network, the connection will fail.

Use Access Path when your FTP account is restricted to a specific folder. Setting it ensures CloudsLinker starts browsing from the correct directory, which helps prevent missing folders or an unexpected “empty root” view after connection.

Yes. Zoho WorkDrive uses different region endpoints (us, eu, jp, in). The region must match your account region, otherwise OAuth may fail or transfers may not run reliably.

Start with the basics: confirm the server address is correct, the username/password are valid, and the server can be reached from the public internet. Also verify your account has permission to list directories and read files. If your login is locked to a folder, check that Access Path matches it.

Yes. When creating the transfer task, you can use file filtering to include or exclude formats. This is useful if you want to migrate only documents first, or skip large archives and move them later.

A practical approach is to migrate in stages: start with one top-level folder, verify results in Zoho WorkDrive, then continue with the next folders. This keeps troubleshooting simple and reduces the chance of restarting a large job.

CloudsLinker provides free and paid plans. The free plan fits small transfers, while paid plans are better for large migrations that need higher speed or multiple tasks. Costs are shown clearly before you select a plan.

Step-by-Step Video: Transfer Files from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive

This video demonstrates how to connect an FTP server to Zoho WorkDrive using CloudsLinker. You’ll see how to configure FTP credentials, define access paths, start the transfer, and verify results without downloading files locally.

Conclusion

Moving files from FTP to Zoho WorkDrive does not have to be complex. With proper preparation and the right migration tool, teams can complete the transfer in a controlled and predictable way. After migration, Zoho WorkDrive provides a collaborative environment with shared team folders, version history, and integrated productivity tools, making it easier to manage files and work together going forward.

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