How to Use FTP on Mac?

Why Do You Need to Know How to Use FTP on Mac?

Have you ever hit a size limit during a file transfer within your local network or online uploading? Or do you need to transfer large video or audio files to colleagues? In both cases, you should use the File Transfer Protocol option. The users of PCs with Apple’s ecosystem can choose between third-party tools like Commander One or setting up an FTP server on Mac through Finder. Both methods have their drawbacks and advantages. Our task is to explain to you the nuances of each method and how to use FTP on Mac.

Reasons to use FTP servers on macOS: 

• Freedom of Using Large Files. With FTP, you can get around the size limitations on files that are a common problem in CMSs and others. Do you need to share a video in HD online or want to upload the files to your private website/server? If you learn how to install FTP on a Mac, you can be sure that the file transfer is quick, safe, and simple;
• Remote File Management. Suppose, you can edit files from a remote server without downloading. That’s the magic of FTP!  If you are connected to the server, it’s like having a secondary hard drive for your Mac, where you can edit and save files;
• FTP Transfers Files without Protection. With passwords and usernames, your files can only be accessed or changed by trusted people. Also, you are completely in charge of what is transferred from your macOS. You can also pick individual files or folders for the transfer to control your bandwidth;
• FTP Servers Are Scalable. Since FTP is scalable, it is an excellent choice for sizing up according to your storage needs in macOS. No more panicking about space – FTP lets you scale as much as you need;
• Trouble-Free File Sharing. It’s never been easier to transfer files from local drives to servers. FTP is a secure, fast, and cost-effective solution for transferring files from one device to another. It is one of the most preferred solutions for file collaboration and sharing of data;

As you can see, there are many reasons to learn and understand how to use FTP on a Mac for your advanced, tech-savvy tasks related to the server appliance on Apple’s ecosystem. Let’s find out the tools and methods you can use for this task.

What Is FTP?

FTP — File Transfer Protocol – is the digital delivery service for your files both offline and online. Think of it as an extension of HTTP protocols for more secure and powerful web surfing. HTTP allows you to move around websites by following links. While FTP is all about moving your local files between your Mac and a distant server, or between two servers.

Let’s say, you’re managing a website. You have all your website files organized on your Mac. FTP allows you to simply transfer these files into your web host server and make them public to the whole world on your website. Or share these files privately on a dedicated server. With FTP transfers you can bypass the limits of uploaded file sizes that are quite common for most websites.

FTP is the king when it comes to big files. A lot of content management systems set upload limits but FTP removes those restrictions, so if you’re uploading a large video, image, or software package, it’s not a problem.

You can connect to a server over FTP on Mac, and the storage of that server will become a local drive on your PC. If you have an FTP client, you can even open, edit, and save files without downloading them to the server. 

While macOS supports simple FTP features via the Finder, premium FTP client software lets you get more features and performance.

Standard FTP on macOS sends login (username/password) encrypted and open to interception. It’s why there are now more secure alternatives such as SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) or FTP over SSL (FTP over SSL). These protocols cipher data as it transfers making file transfers much safer. You should learn how to access FTP on Mac with tools like Commander One for better security.

Tools You Can Use to Enable FTP on Mac

There are so many tools and services you can use FTP. The Kimli Soft team picked and tested a few software options: 

• Cyberduck. Free and open-source, Cyberduck is a good option for simple FTP, SFTP, and file sharing. It’s intuitive and works with a safe connection;
• Transmit. This fast, full-featured FTP client connects to all sorts of protocols and clouds. It is speed and clean but it costs a little more;
• Forklift. Double-pane file manager with strong FTP/SFTP and local file managers. It is a good all-around file management solution if you need more than FTP support;
• Commander One. The FTP and SFTP are the main options offered by this multi-featured file manager. It makes it easier to interface with servers, is simple to use, and comes at an affordable price;
• DC Commander. A dual-pane file manager similar to the old Norton Commander, DC Commander supports FTP/SFTP along with a full set of file management tools;

All these tools are okay, but Commander One has a great combination of features, ease of use, and price point. FTP connections are easy to set up and file management is straightforward, thanks to the dual-pane interface. It is very reasonably priced for those Mac users who are looking for an opulent but user-friendly FTP client and file manager.

It is better to use Commander One if you want to know how to set up FTP on a Mac without any hassle. Also, we recommend cleansing your files and folders before the transfer of files – for example, you can install and use ApeakSoft Mac Cleaner. You can find its review on our website as well.

Commander One – The Best Way to Use FTP on Mac

Apple’s Finder is getting better over the years, but it can be a real pain for new users who’ve never set up FTP servers. Then there’s Commander One, a double-pane file manager that takes Mac file management to the next level.

Commander One service offers many features for those people who want to learn how to use FTP on Mac:  

• Dual-pane performance without popping-up windows;
• Quick browsing and copy of files from one location to another;
• Powerful search with Regular Expressions;
• Cloud and remote server management;
• Access from mobile devices;
• Beyond file control;
• Easy mounting;
• A full-time file manager;

Commander One is not just a Finder upgrade. It’s a file management revolution. It offers a dual-pane interface and full functionality. Commander One is a great tool for expert FTP users. Become part of the ever-growing number of happy users who have exchanged Finder limits for the maxed-out efficacy of Commander One.

You can choose between two pricing plans because most features of this tool are paid for: 

• Personal license for 1 Mac is $ 29.99;
• Team license for 5 Macs is $ 99.99;

Minimum system requirements are macOS 10.13 or higher. You should visit their official website to get the help from the customer support.

How to Connect to FPT on Mac with Commander One?

Commander One is effortless to set up and use: 

• Download Commander One for Mac first – from the official website or Apple’s AppStore. After installation is complete, launch the application;
• Click the associated icon on the toolbar or click “Window” in the toolbar and then choose “Connections Manager”. Press the keyboard shortcut Command + F;
• Open the Connection Manager window and select the icon “FTP & SFTP”;
• You need to fill in the following data – the name of the connection, the server’s address, the port number (usually, 21 for FTP and 22 for SFTP), your username and password for the FTP server, the remote path (the directory on the server you want to access);
• Click the “Connect” button.  Commander One will connect to the FTP server, and the server’s contents will be visible in one of the Commander One panes;

Native Method of Using FTP on a Mac – A More Complicated Finder

macOS comes with an automatic approach to opening FTP servers through the Finder, but it’s much more limited than dedicated FTP clients. Here’s how it works:  

• Open the Finder application on your Mac;
• In the menu bar click “Go” and then “Connect to Server”;
• In the “Server Address” box, enter ftp:// followed by the server name (e.g., ftp://example.com). For a more secure FTP (FTPS) path, you could use ftps://;
• Click the “Connect” button;
• If the server requires authentication, you will get a pop-up asking for your username and password. Login using your credentials and select “Connect”;

When connected, the contents of the server will be shown in a Finder window. But Finder’s FTP setup is primitive. It is mostly useful for basic file transfer but does not support advanced features such as file synchronization, remote editing, and high-level security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTP safe?

Yes, if you manage to learn how to FTP on Mac safely. SFTP or FTPS protocols are the safest methods because of the advanced encryption. Standard FTP client does take a username and password, but it is protected as plain text and can be intercepted. This encryption is the security’s vulnerability. SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) takes care of this by using SSH (Secure Shell) and tunnels the data over an encrypted tunnel that is extremely secure.

How to connect FTP on Mac via browser?

It is impossible to do via the Safari browser. The support of FTP protocols by Mozilla and Chrome browsers was also discontinued in 2021.

How to transfer files with FTP?

We recommend using dedicated FTP clients and file managers like Commander One, especially if you use transfers of large files frequently. This app is very easy to connect to FTP thanks to the user-friendly interface. With Commander One, it is possible to transfer files, modify files directly on the server, and connect multiple cloud storage at once.

How to use FTP on the Mac terminal?

You can access another computer’s files that are being shared via SFTP using the Terminal app on your Mac. Here is how you can do it: 

• Launch Terminal on macOS. Use the username and hostname from the login command – get from the previous section (but both computers should be on the same network:
• Click the “Return”. You will need to type your normal Mac password;
• You should now be logged in to the other machine through SFTP. And you can use command lines to control the files. You should use the commands for different actions. It is for a tech-savvy user. Open Terminal, type “ftp [server address]” (e.g., ftp.example.com), and press Enter. Enter username/password when prompted;
• Use commands like “ls” for listings, “cd” to change directories, “get [filename]” to download, and “put [filename]” to upload. Use “quit” to exit the connection;
• Using SFTP through the terminal is not ideal, but it works in cases where you may be in a pinch. Instead, if you’d like to access your files remotely via SFTP, you can use a tool like Cyberduck to give an actual usable GUI;

Conclusion

The Kimli Soft team hopes that this guide about how to use FTP on Mac OS will come in handy every time you need to transfer large files on your Apple PC. We are going to review even more useful tools and professional software for your leisure and business tasks. Also, it is worth bookmarking our website if you search for reliable mobile applications.