If you want to set Filezilla ftp server to handle passive connections on your AWS EC2 instances, you should do the following. Select non used TCP ports, for example 9024-9048 range Configure firewalls: In your AWS EC2 security group , allow the incoming connections on chosen ports: tcp port 20 tcp port 21 tcp port 9024-9048 If using Windows firewall on you instance, allow connections on same ports. Now configure Filezilla to use specific port range on Passive connections: Open Filezilla management console. Got to: Edit > Settings > Passive Mode Settings ' External Server IP Address for passive mode transfers ' If you use AWS Elastic IP , enter it in " Use the following IP ", if not - use Filezilla provided web service with " Retrieve external IP address from " option. Check ' Don't use external IP for local connections ' Check ' Use custom port range ' Enter chosen values (in our example) 9024 - 90