Unable to access FTP folder on Windows explorer: "The folder...is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access"

How to resolve: Unable to access FTP folder on Windows explorer: "The folder...is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access"

Tried to access FTP on Windows and I got a message prompt with the message - "The folder...is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access". If you are facing a similar issue, the follow solution may help.

Scenario:

1. I was trying to transfer some files from my Android Phone to the Windows PC over FTP.
2. The Android phone and the Windows PC are both connected to the same Wi-Fi.
3. The file explorer on the Android Phone has FTP feature, which when turned on, displays an FTP address such as 'ftp://192.168.1.108:9999/" which has to be entered on the Windows PC Explorer to access the files on the Android Phone.
4.  Usually, the Windows Explorer would open the 'ftp://192.168.1.108:9999/". But this time, it did not.
   
   Instead, the message "The folder...is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access" is displayed. On Clicking OK, the directory opens in Internet Explorer as shown below.
   
   
5. Stopped the FTP service from the Android Phone file explorer and tried again, but it is the same.

 

FTP service started on Android Phone's File Manager:

 Unable to access FTP folder on Windows: Message displayed

 

Googled for solutions on the internet, and some suggest enabling "Enable FTP folder view" and "Passive FTP" in Internet Options.

Steps- how to enable "Passive FTP" in Internet Options.

• Open Internet Explorer > Click "Tools"
   
• Select "Internet Options" > Open "Advanced" tab.
   
• Take a look at "Enable FTP folder view" checkbox. Check it if it isn't checked already.
   
• Also enable "Use Passive FTP"

But this did not work in my case.

Solution that worked: Restarted Windows Explorer!

• Open task manager on the Windows PC: Right Click on Taskbar > Click Task Manager 
   
• In the Task Manager, find Windows Explorer
   
• Right Click on Windows Explorer and click RESTART
   
• On the Android Phone's File Manager, start FTP service.
   
• Type the FTP address displayed on the Phone in the Windows Explorer Address bar
   
• I can now see the directories of the Phone on the Windows Explorer.

So the solution was simple. I just restart the Windows Explorer from Task Manager and the error "The folder...is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access" is no more.

I was successfully able to access the FTP folder on my phone from Windows Explorer.