ftplib.error_perm: 550 Permission denied

The 550 Permission denied error in ftplib occurs when the FTP server denies access to the specified file or directory. This error can be caused by several issues such as:

• Incorrect file path or directory path on the server.
• Lack of write permissions for the specified directory.
• The FTP user does not have the required permissions to upload to the given directory.
• The remote directory may not exist.

Steps to Troubleshoot and Resolve the Issue

Here are some steps you can try to fix the 550 Permission denied issue:

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1. Check the File Path and Directory on the FTP Server

Make sure the remote path you are trying to upload to exists on the FTP server. If you're uploading to a specific directory, you may need to create it first.

You can use the following code to list the files and directories on the server to ensure your paths are correct:

from ftplib import FTP

def list_files(ftp_host, ftp_user, ftp_password):
    try:
        ftp = FTP(ftp_host)
        ftp.login(user=ftp_user, passwd=ftp_password)
        ftp.retrlines('LIST')  # List files and directories in the current directory
        ftp.quit()
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")

# Example usage
list_files('ftp.example.com', 'your_username', 'your_password')

This will help you verify the structure of the remote directory. If the target directory doesn’t exist, you can create it using the ftp.mkd() command.

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2. Ensure Write Permissions on the FTP Server

Make sure the user you are logging in with has write permissions to the target directory. Some servers only allow uploads to certain directories or may require admin intervention to change permissions.

If you are uploading to the root directory or a restricted folder, try uploading to a different directory, such as a public or user-specific folder.

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3. Create the Remote Directory if It Doesn’t Exist

If the remote directory you are uploading to doesn’t exist, you can create it programmatically with ftp.mkd().

from ftplib import FTP

def upload_file_with_dir_check(ftp_host, ftp_user, ftp_password, file_path, remote_path):
    try:
        # Connect and login to the FTP server
        ftp = FTP(ftp_host)
        ftp.login(user=ftp_user, passwd=ftp_password)
        print(f"Connected to {ftp_host}")

        # Extract the remote directory and file name
        remote_dir = '/'.join(remote_path.split('/')[:-1])
        remote_file = remote_path.split('/')[-1]

        # Check if the remote directory exists, if not, create it
        try:
            ftp.cwd(remote_dir)  # Try to change to the remote directory
        except:
            print(f"Directory {remote_dir} not found. Creating it...")
            ftp.mkd(remote_dir)  # Create the remote directory
            ftp.cwd(remote_dir)  # Change to the new directory

        # Open the local file and upload it
        with open(file_path, 'rb') as f:
            ftp.storbinary(f'STOR {remote_file}', f)
            print(f"Successfully uploaded {file_path} to {remote_path}")

        ftp.quit()
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")

# Example usage
upload_file_with_dir_check(
    ftp_host='ftp.example.com',
    ftp_user='your_username',
    ftp_password='your_password',
    file_path='local_file.txt',
    remote_path='uploads/remote_file.txt'
)

This version ensures the directory exists before attempting the upload. If the directory is missing, it creates it.

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4. Check File Permissions on the Local Side

Make sure the local file you are trying to upload exists and can be opened by the script. Double-check the local file path and confirm that the file has the appropriate read permissions.

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5. Switch to Passive Mode (Optional)

Some FTP servers require passive mode to transfer files properly. You can enable passive mode by calling ftp.set_pasv(True) before uploading.

ftp.set_pasv(True)

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6. Try a Different Remote Path

Some FTP servers restrict uploads to specific directories (e.g., /uploads/ or /public_html/). Try uploading the file to a different directory if the one you’re using doesn't work.

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7. Contact the FTP Server Admin

If all else fails, contact the FTP server administrator to ensure:

• Your FTP user has write permissions to the target directory.
• The server configuration allows uploads.

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Let me know if these steps help or if you encounter further issues!