SFTP and FTP servers

You can connect your own file servers — a NAS, a web host, a server at work — as SFTP or FTP accounts. Both use a server address, a port, a username and a password; SFTP can also use a private key. Choose SFTP whenever your server offers it: it's encrypted, while plain FTP sends your password and files across the network as readable text.

Adding an SFTP server

1. Choose Connect Accounts… from the More menu, then click Add Account.
2. Select SFTP and type a Nickname.
3. Fill in:
   • Server — the host name or IP address only, such as files.example.com. If you paste name@server, Storage Studio points it out and offers a Fix button that moves the name into Username.
   • Port — 22 unless your server uses another.
   • Username.
   • Sign in with — Password or Private key.
4. For Password, type it in; for Private key, click Browse… and choose your key file, then add a Key passphrase if the key has one.
5. Click Save account.

Your key file stays where it is on your Mac — Storage Studio reads it each time it connects and never uploads it.

Adding an FTP server

Select FTP. The form starts with a red FTP is not encrypted warning that you can't dismiss. Fill in Server, Port (21 by default), Username and Password, then tick I understand the risks and want to add this FTP account anyway. Save account stays greyed out until you do.

The Base path field on both forms is optional. You can leave it blank and pick the exact folder later, when you set up a transfer.

The password strength check

Passwords and key passphrases go through a strength meter. Very weak and Weak aren't accepted — the meter says Won't be accepted and why. Fair and above are accepted. A longer password with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols scores higher; common passwords, keyboard runs like qwerty, repeated characters and years count against it. The check applies to FTP too: a weak password sent as readable text is even riskier.

%% caption: Choosing between SFTP and FTP, and what each form asks for
flowchart TD
  A{Does your server offer SFTP?} -->|Yes| B[Choose SFTP]
  A -->|No| C[Choose FTP]
  B --> D{How do you sign in?}
  D -->|Password| E[Password, Fair or better on the meter]
  D -->|Key file| F[Private key file, optional passphrase]
  C --> G[Read the warning, tick I understand the risks]
  G --> E
  E --> H[Save account]
  F --> H

You can add up to 10 SFTP and 10 FTP accounts.

When Test connection fails

Select the account and click Test connection. For SFTP and FTP, Storage Studio turns the common network errors into plain advice:

• Nothing's listening on… — the server isn't running, it's on a different port from the one you entered, or a firewall is in the way. If the server is a Mac, turn on Remote Login in System Settings › General › Sharing.
• Couldn't reach… — the connection didn't complete. Check the server is switched on and reachable from your network.
• Authentication rejected by the SSH server or Authentication failed (SFTP) — check the username (it's case-sensitive), the password or key, and that the server allows that way of signing in.
• The SSH host key for this server has changed (SFTP) — this can be a harmless server reinstall, or a sign that something is pretending to be your server. Check with whoever runs the server before going further.

Copy error copies the full message, so you can paste it into a support request.

Editing the account

Click Edit to change the server, port, username or password. Leave the password blank to keep the one you saved. The nickname can't be changed. See testing, editing and removing an account.

See also: Cloud accounts · Data Transfers · How your account sign-ins are stored · S3-compatible storage