How to connect to an FTP server on Mac, step by step

By the Molo team · Updated October 31, 2026

You want to put files on a website or server, or download some. This guide shows how to connect to an FTP, FTPS or SFTP server from a Mac.

What you need before you start

• Host name: for example ftp.example.com (no ftp://, no spaces).
• Username and password from your hosting provider.
• Protocol and port: FTP and FTPS usually use port 21, SFTP port 22. Your provider's welcome e-mail or control panel lists them.

Why Finder is not enough

Older versions of macOS let you open an FTP server from Finder with Go ▸ Connect to Server. Recent versions of macOS no longer support FTP in Finder, and Finder never handled SFTP. So you need a dedicated FTP client.

Connect with Molo in four steps

1. Add the server. Click Add Server, enter a name, the host, username and password, and choose FTP, FTPS or SFTP.
2. Connect. Click the server in the list. A green dot shows it is connected, and you see the server's folders on the right and your Mac on the left.
3. Open the right folder. On many hosts your website lives in a folder such as public_html, www or htdocs. You can enter it as the Remote path so Molo opens there every time.
4. Move files. Drag files between the panes, or use the upload and download buttons.

If it does not connect

• "Could not reach the server": check the host spelling, port and protocol, and that you are online.
• "Login failed": retype the password; some hosts need the full username such as user@example.com.
• Molo shows Retry and Edit… on the error screen, so you can correct the details without removing the server.

More help: fixing FTP connection errors on Mac.

Staying connected

Molo keeps every server you open connected in the background and reconnects automatically, for example after your Mac wakes from sleep. Switching between several servers is a single click. Choose protocols with care: see FTP vs SFTP vs FTPS.