FTP, FTPS and SFTP servers

A server opens in a panel like a folder. You copy, move, view and edit files just as you do on a disk.

Protocols

Implicit FTPS (port 990), WebDAV and cloud drives aren't supported.

New connection

FTP/SFTP → New Connection...

OK saves the connection and connects right away in the active panel. If a connection with exactly the same name already exists, its details — including the password — are replaced with the new ones.

Connecting

You can connect to a saved server in several ways:

• FTP/SFTP → the server's name in the menu list (“My server [SFTP] (example.com:22)”) — in the active panel;

• FTP/SFTP → Manage Connections... → Connect;

• a favorite path pointing to a folder on the server (F2);

• the server list in a panel: Cmd+2 / Ctrl+2, then Enter (Panel content, new after 1.0.0).

The SFTP Login window shows “Connecting to SFTP host:port...” and, when FTP/SFTP - full details is on, the conversation with the server. Cancel stops connecting.

Once you're connected, the panel shows the server's files, a Disconnect button appears next to the path field, and the window title shows “Connected to SFTP: name (host)”.

The folder you start in:

1. the favorite's folder, if you connect from a favorite path;

2. otherwise, the Initial directory from the connection settings;

3. if none is set or the server rejects it — the server's default folder. The app then says: “The initial directory '…' could not be opened - the server default directory was opened instead.”

If the connection fails, the connecting window shows the reason (e.g. a wrong password, a timeout) and an OK button.

macOS: The first time you connect, the system may ask whether FlyingFiles can use the password from the Keychain. Choose Always Allow, and it won't ask again. Sometimes macOS shows two of these prompts in a row; that's normal.

Working on a server

On a server, the same keys work as on a disk:

• F3 and F4 — the file is downloaded for viewing or editing, and saving uploads it back;

• F5 and F6 in both directions, also between two servers in two panels — the data then goes through your computer, and each file is loaded into memory in full, so very large files are better moved in two steps via your disk;

• F7, F8, Shift+F6, compression, search, folder comparison and statistics;

• when the other panel is connected to a server, the Sync panel with the other panel button opens a second connection to the same server and folder in the active panel.

When you enter a folder, the app reads it from the server again. If the server is slow, you can turn this off (Refresh FTP/SFTP when entering a folder in Settings) and refresh manually with Cmd+R / Ctrl+R.

Transfers

Copying to and from a server works like ordinary copying, with some extras:

• The date question when uploading to a server: “No” keeps the source files' dates.

• Preparing Transfer — the app checks what's already on the server and shows a counter of checked items.

• The FTP / SFTP Transfer window with the conversation with the server (when FTP/SFTP - full details is on).

• Transfer Summary at the end: files, folders, skipped, failed, data, time and average speed.

Reliability

• Retrying after a timeout — when the server stops responding in the middle of a file, the app retries (up to 3 times by default) after the time set in FTP/SFTP transfer timeout (3 s without data by default).

• Reconnecting after a dropped connection, back to the same folder.

• Completeness check — after an error, the app compares the size of the file on the server. It treats a complete file as done, and when the state can't be determined, it doesn't overwrite the file blindly.

• Verification (Verify FTP/SFTP copy integrity, off by default) — after each file, the app compares the SHA-256 checksums of the source file and the copy. On SFTP, the server computes the checksum (sha256sum, shasum or openssl) if the account allows it; otherwise, the app reads the copy back. A file that doesn't match goes on the list of failed items.

• Cancelling — the app deletes a half-uploaded file from the server; when downloading, the local file stays untouched.

Fast mode

With thousands of small files, checking the server before the transfer starts takes a long time. Fast FTP/SFTP in Settings:

• skips the preparation and the date question (dates aren't preserved);

• asks about conflicts during the transfer, at the first existing file, and your answer applies until the end;

• shows progress without overall totals.

Disconnecting

• The Disconnect button next to the path field, or FTP/SFTP → Disconnect (for the active panel).

• The panel returns to your home folder on the local disk.

• Taking the panel somewhere else (a drive, the home folder, a favorite) and quitting the app also disconnect.

Managing connections

FTP/SFTP → Manage Connections... shows a list with Connect, Edit, Delete and Close buttons.

• Edit opens the connection dialog with the password read from the system keychain (macOS may ask for permission). Change it or leave it as it is.

• Delete asks for confirmation (default No) and also removes the password from the system keychain.

• When editing, the name can't repeat another connection's name (regardless of letter case).

The same operations are available in the server list in a panel: F4 edits, F7 adds, F8 deletes (new after 1.0.0).

Passwords and keys

• Passwords are kept in the macOS Keychain or in Windows Credential Manager, under the service name FlyingFiles FTP and the connection name. The settings file never contains them.

• The app reads a password only when you connect to that server or edit the connection — not at startup.

• Private key (SFTP): point to the key file. If the key has a passphrase, type it in the Password field. If logging in with the key fails and the Password field isn't empty, the app tries to log in with that password.

• The SSH agent (ssh-agent, 1Password, Secretive) isn't used — you need a key file.

Common messages:

• “Private key file not found: …” — check the key path;

• “The private key … is encrypted - enter its passphrase in the Password field.”

Passive and active mode (FTP)

• On (PASV): your computer opens the data connection. This works behind a router (NAT) and is the default.

• Off (active): the server connects back to your computer. Worth trying when listing a folder or a transfer in passive mode times out.

Accounts restricted to a folder

On many hosting services, an account sees only its own folder, and paths are relative to it. If the server rejects the Initial directory, type a relative path (e.g. public_html instead of /home/account/public_html) or leave the field empty.

Security

Warning: FlyingFiles does not check the FTPS server certificate or the SFTP host key (it doesn't use a known_hosts file). Encryption protects against eavesdropping, but it won't detect an impostor server. Connect to servers you trust, and avoid logging in over public Wi-Fi networks without a VPN.

• Plain FTP sends the password and files as plain text — if the server offers SFTP or FTPS, choose one of them.

• The transfer log (logs/transfers.log) masks passwords (PASS ********), but it contains server addresses, usernames and file paths.

Server conversation and log

• FTP/SFTP - full details in Settings (on by default) shows the conversation with the server in the connecting, preparation, transfer and download windows.

• Regardless of that setting, the conversation and errors are written to the logs/transfers.log file in the settings folder (where to find it).

Troubleshooting