---
title: "SFTP and FTP servers"
url: https://storagestudio.us/wiki/sftp-and-ftp
category: "Cloud accounts"
tags: ["cloud accounts", "sftp", "ftp", "servers"]
summary: "Connect a file server with its address, port, username and a password or private key. SFTP is encrypted and is the one to choose; plain FTP is allowed only after you confirm you understand it isn't encrypted."
updated: 2026-10-01T05:32:09.000Z
---

# SFTP and FTP servers

Connect a file server with its address, port, username and a password or private key. SFTP is encrypted and is the one to choose; plain FTP is allowed only after you confirm you understand it isn't encrypted.

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.

```mermaid
%% 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
```

*Flowchart — Choosing between SFTP and FTP, and what each form asks for. Outline:*

- Does your server offer SFTP?
  - Yes: leads to Choose SFTP
  - No: leads to Choose FTP
- Choose SFTP
  - leads to How do you sign in?
- Choose FTP
  - leads to Read the warning, tick I understand the risks
- How do you sign in?
  - Password: leads to Password, Fair or better on the meter
  - Key file: leads to Private key file, optional passphrase
- Password, Fair or better on the meter
  - leads to Save account
- Private key file, optional passphrase
  - leads to Save account
- Read the warning, tick I understand the risks
  - leads to Password, Fair or better on the meter

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](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account).

- **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)

See also: [Cloud accounts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts) · [Data Transfers](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/data-transfers) · [How your account sign-ins are stored](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/how-account-sign-ins-are-stored) · [S3-compatible storage](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/s3-compatible-storage)

## What links here

- [Accounts Storage Studio doesn't connect](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/accounts-we-dont-connect)
- [Cloud accounts](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/cloud-accounts)
- [S3-compatible storage](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/s3-compatible-storage)
- [Testing, editing and removing an account](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/testing-editing-and-removing-an-account)