{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "S3-compatible storage",
  "slug": "s3-compatible-storage",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/s3-compatible-storage",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/s3-compatible-storage.md",
  "category": "Cloud accounts",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts/",
  "tags": [
    "cloud accounts",
    "s3",
    "bucket storage"
  ],
  "summary": "Connect an Amazon S3 bucket, or a bucket from another S3-compatible service, with an access key, a secret key and the bucket name. Storage Studio checks for the common set-up mistakes and offers one-click fixes.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:18:48.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:32:08.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Adding a bucket",
      "id": "adding-a-bucket"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Why the bucket is required",
      "id": "why-the-bucket-is-required"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Common mistakes Storage Studio catches",
      "id": "common-mistakes-storage-studio-catches"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Editing the account later",
      "id": "editing-the-account-later"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "What you can do with it",
      "id": "what-you-can-do-with-it"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "testing-editing-and-removing-an-account",
      "label": "testing, editing and removing an account",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account"
    },
    {
      "slug": "data-transfers",
      "label": "Data Transfers",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-storage-studio-location-in-finder",
      "label": "the Storage Studio location in Finder",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-storage-studio-location-in-finder"
    },
    {
      "slug": "backup-destinations",
      "label": "backup destination",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/backup-destinations"
    },
    {
      "slug": "cloud-accounts",
      "label": "Cloud accounts",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts"
    },
    {
      "slug": "how-account-sign-ins-are-stored",
      "label": "How your account sign-ins are stored",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-account-sign-ins-are-stored"
    },
    {
      "slug": "sftp-and-ftp",
      "label": "SFTP and FTP servers",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/sftp-and-ftp"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "accounts-we-dont-connect",
      "title": "Accounts Storage Studio doesn't connect",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/accounts-we-dont-connect"
    },
    {
      "slug": "cloud-accounts",
      "title": "Cloud accounts",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts"
    },
    {
      "slug": "sftp-and-ftp",
      "title": "SFTP and FTP servers",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/sftp-and-ftp"
    },
    {
      "slug": "testing-editing-and-removing-an-account",
      "title": "Testing, editing and removing an account",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-cloud-folder-browser",
      "title": "The cloud folder browser",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-cloud-folder-browser"
    },
    {
      "slug": "thumbnails-in-finder",
      "title": "Thumbnails, and why some accounts show plain icons",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/thumbnails-in-finder"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "The checks Storage Studio makes when you save an S3 account",
      "outline": "- You click Save account\n  - leads to Is the bucket name filled in?\n- Is the bucket name filled in?\n  - No: leads to Save stays greyed out\n  - Yes: leads to Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID?\n- Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID?\n  - Yes: leads to Storage Studio names the real region to use instead\n  - No: leads to Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket?\n- Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket?\n  - Yes: leads to Refused: uploads to those buckets don't work\n  - No: leads to Account saved\n",
      "source": "%% caption: The checks Storage Studio makes when you save an S3 account\nflowchart TD\n  A[You click Save account] --> B{Is the bucket name filled in?}\n  B -->|No| X[Save stays greyed out]\n  B -->|Yes| C{Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID?}\n  C -->|Yes| Y[Storage Studio names the real region to use instead]\n  C -->|No| D{Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket?}\n  D -->|Yes| Z[Refused: uploads to those buckets don't work]\n  D -->|No| E[Account saved]"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The Add Cloud Account sheet with Bucket Storage selected, the Provider set to Amazon Web Services, and the Access Key ID, Secret Access Key, Region and Bucket fields filled in",
      "caption": "Adding S3-compatible storage"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "Can I see all my cloud accounts in Finder on a Mac?",
      "answer": "Yes. Storage Studio adds a \"Storage Studio\" location to Finder's sidebar, with each connected cloud account and paired device as a folder inside, and a Finder button in the app's main window opens it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Folders you have visited open straight away and…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    }
  ],
  "text": "S3-compatible storage is listed in Add Account as Bucket Storage . You connect it with an access key, a secret key and the name of one bucket, rather than by signing in through a browser. Amazon S3 is the best-known example, and many other services and self-hosted servers speak the same language. Adding a bucket Choose Connect Accounts… from the More menu, then click Add Account . Select Bucket Storage and type a Nickname , such as archive-bucket . Pick your Provider . There are presets for Amazon Web Services , several other S3-compatible services, a self-hosted server, and Other (custom endpoint) for anything else. Fill in the fields below and click Save account . Field What to enter Access Key ID The key ID from your provider's console. Secret Access Key The secret that goes with it. A strength meter checks it; anything it marks Weak or Very weak won't be accepted. The eye button shows or hides it. Region Filled in from the preset where there's a usual value. For Amazon Web Services the default is us-east-1 . Bucket * Required. The one bucket this account will use. Endpoint URL Required for every provider except Amazon Web Services. Copy it from your provider's dashboard. Under Advanced — addressing + transfer behaviour there's Use path-style URLs . It's switched on for the self-hosted and custom presets and off for Amazon Web Services. Turn it on if your server doesn't support the other addressing style. You can add up to 10 Bucket Storage accounts. The checks Storage Studio makes when you save an S3 account Flowchart outline: The checks Storage Studio makes when you save an S3 account You click Save account leads to Is the bucket name filled in? Is the bucket name filled in? No: leads to Save stays greyed out Yes: leads to Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID? Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID? Yes: leads to Storage Studio names the real region to use instead No: leads to Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket? Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket? Yes: leads to Refused: uploads to those buckets don't work No: leads to Account saved Why the bucket is required S3 has no \"default bucket\": every file lives at bucket/name . Without a bucket, Storage Studio would have nothing to put first in the path, and every transfer would fail. If an older account was saved without one, selecting it shows Bucket not set — transfers will fail with an Edit bucket… button. Common mistakes Storage Studio catches An Availability Zone ID in Region — something like use1-az2 is a zone, not a region. When you save, Storage Studio stops and, where it can, names the region it belongs to. On an existing account it shows This remote's region looks invalid with a Use region and retest button that fixes it in place. An S3 Express One Zone bucket — Storage Studio can list these but can't upload to them, so it won't save a bucket whose name marks it as one. An existing account pointed at one shows S3 Express One Zone — upload not supported . Use a standard bucket instead. A key that can only see one bucket — if your access policy only covers your bucket (a sensible set-up), Test connection can't list every bucket in the account. Storage Studio recognises this and reports Authenticated in green rather than an error. Editing the account later Select it in Remotes & Accounts and click Edit . Every field except the nickname can be changed. Your saved secret is filled in so you can check it — click the eye button to hide it before sharing your screen. Leave it as it is to keep it, or type a new one. See testing, editing and removing an account . What you can do with it Use the bucket in Data Transfers , show it in the Storage Studio location in Finder , or choose it as a backup destination . Common questions Can I see all my cloud accounts in Finder on a Mac? Yes. Storage Studio adds a \"Storage Studio\" location to Finder's sidebar, with each connected cloud account and paired device as a folder inside, and a Finder button in the app's main window opens it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Folders you have visited open straight away and… See also: Cloud accounts · How your account sign-ins are stored · SFTP and FTP servers",
  "markdown": "S3-compatible storage is listed in **Add Account** as **Bucket Storage**. You connect it with an access key, a secret key and the name of one bucket, rather than by signing in through a browser. Amazon S3 is the best-known example, and many other services and self-hosted servers speak the same language.\n\n## Adding a bucket\n\n1. Choose **Connect Accounts…** from the **More** menu, then click **Add Account**.\n2. Select **Bucket Storage** and type a **Nickname**, such as *archive-bucket*.\n3. Pick your **Provider**. There are presets for **Amazon Web Services**, several other S3-compatible services, a self-hosted server, and **Other (custom endpoint)** for anything else.\n4. Fill in the fields below and click **Save account**.\n\n| Field | What to enter |\n|---|---|\n| **Access Key ID** | The key ID from your provider's console. |\n| **Secret Access Key** | The secret that goes with it. A strength meter checks it; anything it marks **Weak** or **Very weak** won't be accepted. The eye button shows or hides it. |\n| **Region** | Filled in from the preset where there's a usual value. For Amazon Web Services the default is `us-east-1`. |\n| **Bucket \\*** | Required. The one bucket this account will use. |\n| **Endpoint URL** | Required for every provider except Amazon Web Services. Copy it from your provider's dashboard. |\n\nUnder **Advanced — addressing + transfer behaviour** there's **Use path-style URLs**. It's switched on for the self-hosted and custom presets and off for Amazon Web Services. Turn it on if your server doesn't support the other addressing style.\n\nYou can add up to 10 Bucket Storage accounts.\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: The checks Storage Studio makes when you save an S3 account\nflowchart TD\n  A[You click Save account] --> B{Is the bucket name filled in?}\n  B -->|No| X[Save stays greyed out]\n  B -->|Yes| C{Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID?}\n  C -->|Yes| Y[Storage Studio names the real region to use instead]\n  C -->|No| D{Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket?}\n  D -->|Yes| Z[Refused: uploads to those buckets don't work]\n  D -->|No| E[Account saved]\n```\n\n*Flowchart — The checks Storage Studio makes when you save an S3 account. Outline:*\n\n- You click Save account\n  - leads to Is the bucket name filled in?\n- Is the bucket name filled in?\n  - No: leads to Save stays greyed out\n  - Yes: leads to Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID?\n- Does the Region look like an Availability Zone ID?\n  - Yes: leads to Storage Studio names the real region to use instead\n  - No: leads to Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket?\n- Is it an S3 Express One Zone bucket?\n  - Yes: leads to Refused: uploads to those buckets don't work\n  - No: leads to Account saved\n\n## Why the bucket is required\n\nS3 has no \"default bucket\": every file lives at *bucket/name*. Without a bucket, Storage Studio would have nothing to put first in the path, and every transfer would fail. If an older account was saved without one, selecting it shows **Bucket not set — transfers will fail** with an **Edit bucket…** button.\n\n## Common mistakes Storage Studio catches\n\n- **An Availability Zone ID in Region** — something like *use1-az2* is a zone, not a region. When you save, Storage Studio stops and, where it can, names the region it belongs to. On an existing account it shows **This remote's region looks invalid** with a **Use *region* and retest** button that fixes it in place.\n- **An S3 Express One Zone bucket** — Storage Studio can list these but can't upload to them, so it won't save a bucket whose name marks it as one. An existing account pointed at one shows **S3 Express One Zone — upload not supported**. Use a standard bucket instead.\n- **A key that can only see one bucket** — if your access policy only covers your bucket (a sensible set-up), **Test connection** can't list every bucket in the account. Storage Studio recognises this and reports **Authenticated** in green rather than an error.\n\n## Editing the account later\n\nSelect it in **Remotes & Accounts** and click **Edit**. Every field except the nickname can be changed. Your saved secret is filled in so you can check it — click the eye button to hide it before sharing your screen. Leave it as it is to keep it, or type a new one. See [testing, editing and removing an account](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account).\n\n## What you can do with it\n\nUse the bucket in [Data Transfers](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers), show it in [the Storage Studio location in Finder](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-storage-studio-location-in-finder), or choose it as a [backup destination](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/backup-destinations).\n\n- **Can I see all my cloud accounts in Finder on a Mac?** Yes. Storage Studio adds a \"Storage Studio\" location to Finder's sidebar, with each connected cloud account and paired device as a folder inside, and a Finder button in the app's main window opens it. Files stay in the cloud until you open them. Folders you have visited open straight away and… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n\nSee also: [Cloud accounts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts) · [How your account sign-ins are stored](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-account-sign-ins-are-stored) · [SFTP and FTP servers](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/sftp-and-ftp)\n"
}