Connect FTP on Nikon Z8 to send your photos

Prerequisites for FTP transfer on Nikon Z8

Before starting, make sure you have the following to set up FTP on your Nikon Z8.

1. A Snapdelivr account with a gallery created (FTP settings are in the gallery tab).
2. Your Nikon Z8 with a charged battery and memory card inserted.
3. An available Wi-Fi network (home router, venue Wi-Fi, or your phone's hotspot).
4. Your gallery's FTP settings: server (host), port, username, password, and path.

Good news: the Nikon Z8 has built-in FTP — no external transmitter needed.

Step by step: set up FTP on Nikon Z8

Follow these steps to configure the FTP connection on your Nikon Z8:

1. Turn on your Nikon Z8 and access the main menu.
2. Navigate to Network menu → Connect to network → FTP server → Configure server.
3. First connect your camera to the Wi-Fi network: select your network and enter the Wi-Fi password.
4. In the FTP server settings, enter your Snapdelivr gallery settings: server (host), port (21 for standard FTP), username, and password.
5. If the option is available, enable passive mode (our server uses it automatically).
6. Confirm the connection. Your Nikon Z8 should confirm the FTP server connection is established.
7. Enable automatic transfer if available: each photo you take will be sent automatically to your gallery.

The Z8 shares the same network processor as the Z9, giving it very fast FTP Wi-Fi transfers.

Using your phone's hotspot at events

On location (weddings, concerts, events), Wi-Fi isn't always available. Use your phone's hotspot to send photos from your Nikon Z8.

1. Enable hotspot (tethering) on your smartphone: Settings → Personal Hotspot.
2. On your Nikon Z8, connect to your phone's Wi-Fi network (like any other network).
3. Since FTP is already configured, photos will be sent over your phone's 4G/5G to your Snapdelivr gallery.

The Nikon Z8 uses Wi-Fi 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz. Make sure your mobile plan has enough data and your phone is plugged in or well charged.

Troubleshooting common issues

Here are the most common issues when setting up FTP on the Nikon Z8 and how to fix them.

1. 'Server connection failed': check that the server, port, username, and password are correct. Watch for extra spaces.
2. 'Cannot connect to Wi-Fi': make sure the network is in range and the password is correct. Try restarting the camera's Wi-Fi.
3. 'Slow or interrupted transfer': move closer to the router/hotspot, switch to JPEG instead of RAW to reduce file size, or use the 5 GHz band if your Nikon Z8 supports it.
4. 'Photos not received in gallery': check the FTP path in settings. It must match exactly what's shown in your Snapdelivr dashboard.