How to Set Up an FTP Server on iPhone & iPad for File Transfers

Artem Meleshko Founder & Engineer at Everappz

FTP is the old reliable of file transfer. It has been around for decades, which is exactly why it is so useful: almost anything that can talk to a server understands it. Cameras, smart TVs, routers, network drives, automation tools and every desktop FTP app speak FTP. With Everdisk you can run an FTP server on your iPhone or iPad, so the phone becomes a place those devices and apps can connect to and move files.

Reach for FTP when the other options do not fit, for example an older device or an app that only knows how to connect over FTP. This guide covers the setup and how to connect from a Mac, Windows, an FTP app, Linux, Android and a second iPhone.

What you need

• An iPhone or iPad with Everdisk installed.
• A computer, app or device on the same Wi-Fi network.
• The files you want to share, in the Everdisk Documents folder or in folders you add.

Set up the FTP server in Everdisk

Step 1: Choose what to share and set access

Open Everdisk, go to the Sharing tab, and tap What to Share. The Documents folder is shared by default. Add more with Add Folder and Add File.

Open Settings, then Sharing, then Access. Turn Files Editing on if you want people to upload, rename and delete, or off to allow downloads only. Set a Login and Password if you want a sign in, or leave them empty so anyone can connect as a guest.

Step 2: Turn on the FTP server

Go to Settings, then Sharing, then Connections, and turn on Other Apps & Devices. That is the FTP server (it carries the FTP tag).

Step 3: Start sharing and note the address

Return to the Sharing tab and tap Start. The How to Connect section shows the FTP address. It looks like this:

ftp://192.168.1.20:2121

The number after the colon is the port, which is 2121 by default. The first part is your iPhone’s address on the Wi-Fi, so yours will be different. Keep Everdisk open on screen while a device is connected.

Connect from a Mac

1. Open Finder, choose Go, then Connect to Server (or press Command and K).
2. Type the FTP address shown in Everdisk, for example ftp://192.168.1.20:2121.
3. Click Connect, then choose Guest or enter your Login and Password.

Finder mounts the FTP share so you can browse and copy files to your Mac. Note that Finder opens FTP as read only. When you want to upload from a Mac, use an FTP app as described below.

Connect from Windows

1. Open File Explorer and click the address bar at the top.
2. Type the FTP address from Everdisk, for example ftp://192.168.1.20:2121, and press Enter.
3. Enter your Login and Password if you set one, or continue as a guest.

The shared files appear in the window and you can copy them to your PC.

Connect with an FTP app (FileZilla, Cyberduck)

For uploads and full control, an FTP app is the best tool. FileZilla and Cyberduck are free and run on Windows, Mac and Linux.

1. Open the app and create a new connection.
2. Set the Host to your iPhone’s Wi-Fi address, and the Port to 2121.
3. For the login, enter your Login and Password, or choose Anonymous if you did not set one.
4. Connect, and drag files in both directions (uploads need Files Editing on).

Connect from Linux

1. Open your file manager and choose Connect to Server or Other Locations.
2. Enter the address, for example ftp://192.168.1.20:2121.
3. Connect as a guest or with your login.

You can also use any Linux FTP client from the terminal, pointing it at the same host and port 2121.

Connect from Android

Android has no system FTP browser, so use an app:

1. Install an FTP client such as AndFTP, FTPCafe, or a file manager with FTP support like Solid Explorer.
2. Add a connection with the host, port 2121, and your login or Anonymous.
3. Browse and transfer.

Connect from another iPhone or iPad

The iOS Files app does not include an FTP client, so use one of these on the second device:

• Everdisk’s own Devices tab. Open Everdisk, go to Devices, tap New Connection, choose FTP, and enter the address, for example ftp://192.168.1.20:2121. This is the simplest route.
• A dedicated FTP app for iOS, using the same host, port 2121 and login.

Connect other gear: cameras, TVs, routers and NAS

This is where FTP shines. Many devices have a built-in FTP client that can send or fetch files:

• Cameras that upload photos over FTP can send them straight to your iPhone.
• Smart TVs, routers, NAS boxes and automation tools that support FTP can connect the same way.

Point them at your iPhone’s Wi-Fi address, port 2121, and your login (or Anonymous), using the address shown in Everdisk.

Read only or read and write

The Files Editing switch in Settings, Sharing, Access controls this. On lets people upload, rename and delete. Off means they can only download. Choose read only when you are handing files out and do not want anything changed on your phone.

Real-life ways people use this

• Connect FileZilla to your iPhone and push a batch of files onto the phone in one go.
• Let an old app or device that only speaks FTP reach your files when nothing else will connect.
• Receive photos from a camera that uploads over FTP.
• Move files between an iPhone and an iPad using Everdisk’s Devices tab on the receiving device.

A few tips

• Keep Everdisk open while a device is connected, since iOS pauses background apps after a while.
• To upload from a Mac, use FileZilla or Cyberduck rather than Finder, because Finder opens FTP as read only.
• Leave the login empty for the widest compatibility, then connect as Anonymous, which most FTP clients offer.
• FTP does not encrypt its traffic. On a network you do not trust, use the SMB server with encryption instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to try it? Download Everdisk from the App Store and connect your first FTP client in a couple of minutes. Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected].