Install KongFTP on Windows: EXE or MSI

1. Check your PC’s compatibility

The KongFTP 1.0.0 installers target 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 on x64 computers. No native Windows ARM installer is provided. The app is free and does not require a KongFTP account.

Preview release. The EXE and MSI installers do not have a publisher certificate signature. This first release still needs validation on a Windows PC. Windows or company policies may block them from running.

On a work PC, check with your IT team that installation is permitted before continuing. Installation is intended for your user account.

2. Choose EXE or MSI

Open the Windows downloads section and choose one of the two formats. They both distribute the same version of KongFTP.

• EXE: the choice for a guided setup using the installer wizard.
• MSI: the Windows Installer package, particularly useful when your IT team uses this format.

Also download the SHA256SUMS.txt manifest. It contains the expected checksums for the files offered on the website.

3. Verify the file before opening it

In PowerShell, navigate to the folder where you saved the installer. Run the command for the file you chose:

For EXE:

Get-FileHash .\KongFTP-1.0.0-Windows-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256

For MSI:

Get-FileHash .\KongFTP-1.0.0-Windows-x64.msi -Algorithm SHA256

Compare the Hash value with the line containing the exact same filename in SHA256SUMS.txt. Uppercase and lowercase letters represent the same value. All 64 characters must match.

If the checksum differs, do not run the file. Download the installer and manifest again from the official website. The checksum verifies download integrity; it does not replace a publisher signature or, by itself, guarantee that software is harmless.

4. Follow the setup wizard

Open the verified EXE or MSI and follow the wizard. One format is enough: you do not need to install both.

Windows may display a warning for this unsigned release. Check where you downloaded the file and read the exact warning before deciding whether to continue. If installation is denied on a managed computer, ask your IT team to review the file.

Keep security protections enabled when installing KongFTP. Microsoft explains SmartScreen and related protections in its app and browser control documentation.

5. Create your vault and add a server

1. Launch KongFTP from the Start menu.
2. Create a vault password of at least 10 characters and keep it somewhere safe. Windows Hello is not integrated in this release.
3. Click Add a site and enter the details supplied by your provider: protocol, host, port and username. Add your authentication method and save the site.
4. Open the site from the sidebar. For SFTP, compare the SSH fingerprint with the one supplied by the administrator before accepting it.

If your sites are already saved in FileZilla, follow the XML import guide. The import steps also work on Windows.

For your first test, select a small file on the left and click Upload →. To retrieve a server file, select it on the right and click ← Download. Check the destination folders and any replacement prompts.

If setup or your first test is blocked

The download website is blocked at work

Note the filtering provider and the reason shown, then ask your IT team to check access to kongftp.app. This check happens before installation.

The installer will not start

Check that your PC has an x64 architecture and read the Windows message. A security policy may reject unsigned installers even when the checksum matches.

The app opens, but the connection fails

Check the protocol, port and credentials supplied by your provider. Record the error message without sharing your password or private key.

An entire folder will not transfer

The current release transfers selected files, without recursive folder transfers or resuming after interruption.