Downloading Data using FTP

We recommend that you download data via our FTP site at ftp://hgdownload.cse.ucsc.edu/, particularly if you plan to download multiple files or files of large size.

FTP from the Command Line

$ ftp hgdownload.cse.ucsc.edu
Name: anonymous
Password: <your email address>
ftp> cd goldenPath
ftp> cd <assembly name> (e.g., hg19)
ftp> cd <data directory> (e.g., liftOver)

To download multiple files from the UNIX ftp command line, use the "mget" command. You may want to use the prompt command to toggle the interactive mode if you do not want to be prompted for each file that you download.

ftp> mget [filename1] [filename2] ...

Or to download all the files in the directory:

ftp> mget -a

FTP from a Web Browser

Most modern web browsers have FTP capabilities built-in. In your browser's url field, enter:

ftp://hgdownload.cse.ucsc.edu/goldenPath/

A note about Safari

Safari does not support FTP inside the browser. When you enter an FTP URL you will be asked to sign in. Select "Guest" and Submit. The FTP file system will open in a window on your desktop.