---
name: "CURLOPT_FTP_USE_PRET"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "curl"
version: "8.23.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/CURLOPT_FTP_USE_PRET"
---

# CURLOPT\_FTP\_USE\_PRET(3)

use PRET for FTP

## NAME

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

## SYNOPSIS

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

## 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

0

## PROTOCOLS

This functionality affects ftp only

## 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

Added in curl 7.20.0

## RETURN VALUE

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

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

## SEE ALSO

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