How to Speed Up Downloads with lftp Segmented Download
This guide explains how to use lftp to download files faster by using segmented downloads, parallel transfers and directory synchronization.
Segmented download allows one file to be downloaded using multiple connections at the same time. This can improve download speed, especially for large files or long-distance transfers.
Do not use too many connections. In most cases, 4–8 segments are enough. We recommend not using more than 10–20 connections, as too many connections may reduce performance or cause connection issues.
Your service hostname, SSH/FTP username and SSH/FTP password can be found in the Client Area under your service details.
Install lftp
Ubuntu or Debian
Install lftp with:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lftp
CentOS, AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux
Install lftp with:
sudo dnf install lftp
macOS
On macOS, you can install lftp with Homebrew:
brew install lftp
Windows
lftp is not available in Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt by default.
To use lftp on Windows, install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and then install lftp inside your Linux environment.
After installing WSL with Ubuntu, open Ubuntu from the Start Menu and run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lftp
On Windows, lftp should be used from WSL or another Linux-like environment. It is not a native Windows PowerShell command.
Connect to Your Service
You can connect using either FTP/FTPS or SFTP.
FTP or FTPS
To connect using FTP or FTPS, run:
lftp -u username,password ftp://server.hostname.com
Replace:
- username with your SSH/FTP username.
- password with your SSH/FTP password.
- server.hostname.com with your service hostname.
SFTP
To connect using SFTP, run:
lftp sftp://username@server.hostname.com
Replace:
- username with your SSH/FTP username.
- server.hostname.com with your service hostname.
You will be asked for your SSH/FTP password after connecting.
Download a Single File with Multiple Segments
After connecting to your service, use pget to download a single file using multiple segments.
Example with 8 segments:
pget -n 8 filename.mkv
Replace filename.mkv with the file you want to download.
Use pget -n for one large file. This is the command that downloads a single file in multiple segments.
Resume an Interrupted File Download
If a single file download was interrupted, you can resume it with:
pget -c -n 8 filename.mkv
The -c option continues the existing partial download instead of starting from the beginning.
Download a Directory
To download a whole directory, use mirror.
Example:
mirror --continue --parallel=8 remote_folder local_folder
Replace:
- remote_folder with the directory on your service.
- local_folder with the local directory where files should be downloaded.
Example:
mirror --continue --parallel=8 downloads downloads
This will download the remote downloads directory to a local directory named downloads.
For directories, mirror --parallel downloads multiple files at the same time. For one large file, use pget -n to download it using multiple segments.
Upload a Directory
You can also upload a local directory to your service using reverse mirror mode.
Example:
mirror -R --continue --parallel=8 local_folder remote_folder
Replace:
- local_folder with the directory on your local computer.
- remote_folder with the destination directory on your service.
Example:
mirror -R --continue --parallel=8 uploads uploads
This will upload the local uploads directory to a remote directory named uploads.
Sync Directories
You can use mirror to synchronize directories between your local computer and your service.
Sync from Remote to Local
To download new and changed files from your service to your local computer, run:
mirror --continue --parallel=8 remote_folder local_folder
This copies missing or changed files from remote_folder to local_folder.
Sync from Local to Remote
To upload new and changed files from your local computer to your service, run:
mirror -R --continue --parallel=8 local_folder remote_folder
This copies missing or changed files from local_folder to remote_folder.
Sync Your Downloads Directory
If you want to synchronize your whole downloads directory from time to time, run mirror on the full remote directory where your files are stored.
Example remote to local sync:
mirror --continue --parallel=8 downloads downloads
This will download new and changed files from the remote downloads directory to a local directory named downloads.
If your files are stored in another directory, replace downloads with the correct path.
Example with an absolute remote path:
mirror --continue --parallel=8 /home/username/downloads /local/downloads
You can run the same command again later. lftp will skip files that are already downloaded and continue downloading missing or changed files.
Exact Sync with Delete
If you want the destination directory to match the source directory exactly, you can add the --delete option.
Remote to local exact sync:
mirror --continue --delete --parallel=8 remote_folder local_folder
Local to remote exact sync:
mirror -R --continue --delete --parallel=8 local_folder remote_folder
Be careful with the --delete option. It removes files from the destination directory if they do not exist in the source directory. Use it only when you are sure the source directory is correct.
Show Transfer Progress
lftp shows transfer progress during active downloads. For directory transfers, you can enable more detailed progress output by adding the --verbose option.
Example directory sync with progress:
mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 downloads downloads
Example single file download with progress:
pget -c -n 8 filename.mkv
You will see the current transfer progress directly in the terminal.
Keep Transfers Running After Closing SSH
If you are running lftp on a remote server or inside an SSH session, use screen to keep the transfer running even after disconnecting from SSH.
Step 1 – Install screen
On Ubuntu or Debian, install screen with:
sudo apt install screen
Step 2 – Start a screen Session
Create a new screen session:
screen -S lftp-transfer
Step 3 – Start lftp
Connect with lftp and start your download or sync command.
Example:
lftp -u username,password ftp://server.hostname.com
Then run:
mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 downloads downloads
Step 4 – Detach from screen
To leave the transfer running in the background, press:
CTRL+A then D
You can now close your SSH session or terminal. The transfer will continue running inside screen.
Step 5 – Return to the Running Transfer
To reconnect to the running transfer later, log back in via SSH and run:
screen -r lftp-transfer
You will return to the same lftp session and see the transfer progress.
Do not start many separate screen sessions with large lftp transfers at the same time. This may generate too many connections and reduce performance.
Useful lftp Commands
After connecting with lftp, you can use the following commands:
ls– list files in the current remote directory.cd folder– change the remote directory.lcd folder– change the local directory.pwd– show the current remote directory.lpwd– show the current local directory.pget -n 8 file– download one file using 8 segments.pget -c -n 8 file– resume an interrupted segmented file download.mirror --continue --parallel=8 remote local– download or update a local directory from a remote directory.mirror -R --continue --parallel=8 local remote– upload or update a remote directory from a local directory.mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 remote local– sync a directory with progress output.mirror --continue --delete --parallel=8 remote local– make the local directory match the remote directory exactly.mirror -R --continue --delete --parallel=8 local remote– make the remote directory match the local directory exactly.exit– close lftp.
Useful screen Commands
Use these commands when you want to keep long transfers running in the background.
screen -S lftp-transfer– start a new screen session named lftp-transfer.CTRL+A then D– detach from screen and keep the transfer running.screen -r lftp-transfer– return to the running transfer session.screen -ls– list running screen sessions.
One-Line Download Examples
You can also download a file or directory without opening an interactive lftp session.
Download One File with FTP
lftp -u username,password ftp://server.hostname.com -e "pget -c -n 8 /path/to/file.mkv; exit"
Download One File with SFTP
lftp sftp://username@server.hostname.com -e "pget -c -n 8 /path/to/file.mkv; exit"
Download a Directory with FTP
lftp -u username,password ftp://server.hostname.com -e "mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 /remote/folder /local/folder; exit"
Download a Directory with SFTP
lftp sftp://username@server.hostname.com -e "mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 /remote/folder /local/folder; exit"
One-Line Sync Examples
You can also synchronize directories directly from one command.
Sync Remote to Local with FTP
lftp -u username,password ftp://server.hostname.com -e "mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 /remote/folder /local/folder; exit"
Sync Local to Remote with FTP
lftp -u username,password ftp://server.hostname.com -e "mirror -R --continue --verbose --parallel=8 /local/folder /remote/folder; exit"
Sync Remote to Local with SFTP
lftp sftp://username@server.hostname.com -e "mirror --continue --verbose --parallel=8 /remote/folder /local/folder; exit"
Sync Local to Remote with SFTP
lftp sftp://username@server.hostname.com -e "mirror -R --continue --verbose --parallel=8 /local/folder /remote/folder; exit"
Troubleshooting
Download Is Not Faster
If the download is not faster, try a different number of segments:
pget -n 4 filename.mkv
pget -n 8 filename.mkv
pget -n 10 filename.mkv
Using more segments does not always mean better speed. The best value depends on your local connection, routing and server load.
Too Many Connections
If you use too many segments or parallel transfers, the connection may become unstable or slower.
Avoid generating excessive connections. We recommend staying between 4 and 8 connections for normal use and not exceeding 10–20 connections.
Wrong Path or File Not Found
If lftp cannot find the file or directory, check the current remote directory:
pwd
List files with:
ls
You can also use an absolute path, for example:
pget -n 8 /home/username/downloads/file.mkv
mirror --continue --parallel=8 /home/username/downloads downloads
Transfer Is Still Running
If you started the transfer inside screen, it may still be running in the background.
List active screen sessions:
screen -ls
Reconnect to your transfer session:
screen -r lftp-transfer
Verification
If the file transfer starts and shows multiple segments, pget is downloading the file using segmented download. If a directory transfer starts multiple files at the same time, mirror --parallel is working correctly.
Please use segmented downloads and parallel transfers responsibly. Too many simultaneous connections can reduce performance and may affect other users on shared services.
