I need to transfer files to my server using FTP and heard that Mac Finder has this feature, but I can’t figure out how to connect or upload files. Has anyone done this successfully? Any tips or steps would be greatly appreciated.
How to Connect to FTP with Finder: Step-by-Step, With a Cloud Twist
So, You’ve Got an FTP Server—Now What?
Alright, real talk: Apple’s Finder can do a lot, but when it comes to FTP, it’s kinda like that one friend who’ll give you a ride only if it’s not too far out of the way. Yes—you can connect to FTP servers, but it’s a bit clunky, and you might bump into its limitations if you need to do anything fancy.
For the uninitiated, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the dinosaur of file-sharing methods, but hey, it still gets used everywhere. Need to send a huge pile of photos to your old college roommate’s server? Grab some files off your web host? That’s where FTP comes in.
The Basics: Connecting through Finder
Let’s break it down. If you’re new, this is a “follow-the-print-on-the-box” kind of process:
- Fire up Finder (it’s the blue/white smiling face on your Dock—don’t play, we’ve all lost it at least once).
- Hit up the top bar and click “Go,” then scroll down to “Connect to Server…” (or slam
⌘Kif you’re allergic to your mouse). - In the popup, punch in your FTP server address. It’s gonna look like
ftp://example.comor might be an IP likeftp://10.20.30.40. - Hit “Connect.” You’ll be asked for a username and password. Credentials in, click “Connect” again.
- If luck’s on your side, that FTP storage mounts like a drive in Finder—now you can drag, drop, and browse files. Uploading? Ehh… Not so much unless the server has anonymous write access (rare). Mostly, you’ll get download-only. Classic Apple move.
- When you’re done pretending it’s 2003, eject the server like any other drive.
Reality Check: Finder’s FTP Is… Meh
Okay, so Finder can read from FTP, but that’s about the end of the magic. Can’t upload files (unless it’s FTP with certain settings that you’ll almost never see), and half the time, you’ll get hit with cryptic errors for no clear reason. If you need to actually use FTP as more than a read-only window, Finder will have you rage quitting faster than Microsoft Word’s default font changes.
I tried using Finder’s built-in FTP support when I needed to keep my website’s image archive up to date. Well, let’s just say my patience wore thinner than Apple’s last MacBook Air.
If Finder Is a Butter Knife, This Tool’s a Swiss Army
If your daily workflow means real FTP action—dragging files both ways, connecting to multiple servers, or juggling cloud storage with ease—consider turning to something built for the job.
One thing that’s got my stamp right now: CloudMounter. It slides right into Finder, so you can deal with your FTP, WebDAV, Google Drive, and even a random Amazon S3 bucket, all as if they lived right on your Mac. Upload, download, rename—none of the Finder weirdness. Basically, it’s like unlocking the ‘pro’ version of Finder without all the rollercoaster of built-in FTP errors.
No, it won’t cook your dinner, but if you’ve ever played the game of “where’d that file go after that failed upload,” you know a good FTP mount makes life easier.
TL;DR
- Launch Finder: ‘Go’ > ‘Connect to Server…’
- Enter FTP URL (starts with
ftp://) - Connect (read your files—maybe no upload though)
- For real, two-way FTP and cloud action: CloudMounter.
- Save your sanity for more important things, like figuring out why your AirDrop still only works when it wants to.
Got horror stories about Finder FTP? Found a better tool? Let’s hear it.
2 Likes
Wow, if only Finder’s FTP capability was as magical as folks hope. So, here’s the sitch: you can use Finder to connect to FTP, like @mikeappsreviewer described (Go > Connect to Server, etc.). But—and this is kinda bananas—it’s basically a read-only tour bus. Trying to upload? Nah. Finder gets stage fright the moment you throw an upload at it, even if your permissions are all golden. (And don’t even think about SFTP for real security—Finder won’t touch it.)
Now, I know CloudMounter’s been suggested. Honestly, worth it if you expect anything approaching professional. The alternatives are third-party FTP clients, which blow Finder outta the water in terms of upload support, queueing, and actually showing errors you can understand. FileZilla (totally free), Transmit, Cyberduck, all get the job done without making you guess where your files disappeared to after a drag-and-drop.
Arguably, Finder’s “FTP support” is like saying you support soccer because you watch one World Cup match per decade. Honestly, Finder wasn’t built for this, so don’t feel bad if you can’t make it work right. If uploading files matters at all to you, install a dedicated client or something like CloudMounter that bakes it right into Finder for real (not Apple’s weird half-baked move).
Also, shoutout to anyone who still finds Finder’s FTP useful for anything. That’s like using a potato peeler to mow your lawn lol. File transfers shouldn’t be roulette, so skip the pain and grab a real tool.
Short version: Finder’s FTP support is like those scissors you get with a kid’s craft set—kind of works, but don’t try cutting anything tough. Yeah, you can connect (Go > Connect to Server… etc.), but uploads? That’s where Finder just nopes out. Absolutely bizarre in 2024 that you can drag a file onto an FTP-mounted drive in Finder and it just… doesn’t upload, gives you a cryptic alert, and shrugs.
Honestly, I don’t fully agree with the idea that Finder’s FTP is even worth troubleshooting beyond read-only. I know @mikeappsreviewer and @jeff made some good points and suggested options, but here’s my honest take: If you absolutely must use Finder, you’re stuck with download-only. If you want “it just works” uploads and consistent connections, skip the default Mac tools altogether. Use a real FTP app like Filezilla (free but a little ugly) or fork out for Transmit or Cyberduck if you want something shinier.
Or, since CloudMounter now basically integrates FTP right into Finder (without the read-only headache), it’s honestly the next-best thing to native support—except it actually lets you upload, download, manage files, AND hook into stuff like Google Drive, S3, etc. Plus, it hasn’t randomly ejected my server mid-transfer or crashed on giant folder copies like Finder did.
So if you want to transfer files via FTP and not just browse, CloudMounter is probably the least frustrating middle ground—feels like Finder, works like a grown-up FTP tool. If you’re strictly into free-ware, stick to Filezilla and don’t look back.
Bit bonkers how Mac’s “it just works” thing forgot FTP. But hey, at least we’ve got options!