FTP & SFTP Client for Chromebook — From the Browser, No Install

School- and work-issued Chromebooks usually won't let you install software — and a Linux (Crostini) container or an Android FTP app can be blocked or just a hassle. FilePort Pro runs entirely in the browser that's already on your Chromebook, so you can connect to an FTP or SFTP server and manage your website's files without installing anything.

Connect Now — use FTP or SFTP on your Chromebook

Works entirely in the browser on ChromeOS

ChromeOS is a locked-down operating system by design, and most FTP software is a desktop download that can't be installed on a Chromebook at all. FilePort Pro sidesteps that: it's a web FTP and SFTP client that runs in Chrome. There's nothing to install, no browser extension to add, no Linux container to enable, and no Android app to sideload. If you can open a web page, you can reach your server.

The same app works identically on a Chromebook, a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer, or even another school device in a different lab — so it's one consistent workflow whether you're on a shared Chromebook cart or your own laptop.

What you can do once connected

This page's connection panel lives on the web FTP client and the web SFTP client, right here in your browser:

Connect to FTP or SFTP — enter your host, port, username, and password and click Connect.
Browse your server — navigate folders with breadcrumb navigation, just like a file manager.
Upload files — upload single files or several at once, or drag and drop them from your Chromebook's Downloads folder.
Download files and folders — download individual files or a whole folder as a ZIP archive.
Manage a shared-hosting control panel — upload themes, plugins, and media to a web host's file structure without the hosting company's web-based file manager.

Credentials you need from your host

Before you connect, your web host or server admin gives you the details you'll type into the panel:

Host — the server address, for example ftp.example.com, sftp.example.com, or an IP address.
Username and password — the FTP/SFTP account login from your host's control panel (for example cPanel, Plesk, or your host's own panel).
Port — usually 21 for FTP and 22 for SFTP. Use the exact port your host lists; some hosts run SFTP on a custom port.
SFTP host-key fingerprint (optional) — FilePort Pro remembers the server's SSH host key the first time you connect and warns you if it changes later, so you can confirm you're reaching the right server. You don't need the fingerprint in advance — just be deliberate about accepting it.

Got these ready? Open the connection panel and connect. Not sure where to find them? See the matching cPanel or WordPress guide, or check your host's help pages.

Limitations to be honest about

FilePort Pro is a hosted, browser-based client, and that comes with two honest limits you should know before you rely on it:

Managed networks can still block you. A school- or work-issued Chromebook may have network restrictions — blocked ports, outbound proxies, or an allowlisted web filter — that the server-side relay cannot bypass. If the connection times out or is refused on a managed device, the block is almost always your organization's network policy, not a problem with your credentials.
The relay can't reach your local LAN. Because the connection passes through a cloud-based relay, FilePort Pro can only connect to hosts that are publicly reachable on the internet. It cannot reach an FTP or SFTP server running on another device on your home or office network.

Common Chromebook connection problems and fixes

"Connection refused" — nothing is answering on that port. Confirm the host and port are correct, the server is running, and your host's firewall allows FTP (21) or SFTP (22) from outside.
"Connection timed out" — traffic is being dropped, usually by a firewall or a managed network's outbound filter. On a school or work Chromebook, check whether the network allowlists or proxies outbound FTP/SFTP; if it does, you can't reach the server from that network no matter what you enter.
Wrong port — FTP uses port 21, SFTP uses port 22 (often a custom port with some hosts). Selecting FTP when the server only offers SFTP (or vice-versa) will fail. Use the exact protocol and port your host lists.
"Authentication failed" — the username or password is wrong, or the account isn't enabled for the protocol you chose. Re-check the credentials in your host's control panel.
"Host key changed" / fingerprint mismatch — the server's SSH host key differs from what you accepted before, which can happen after the server is rebuilt or if you're reaching a different machine. Confirm you're connecting to the right host before accepting the new fingerprint deliberately.

Is a browser-based FTP client secure on a Chromebook?

Because FilePort Pro relays your connection, your credentials pass through our server to reach yours — never "credentials never leave your browser." They're handled with a few careful guarantees: they're held in memory only for the active session, they're never stored or logged, and the session ends when you disconnect or after about 15 minutes of inactivity. The app is served over HTTPS, and SFTP runs inside an encrypted SSH session with host-key verification. Plain FTP sends your password unencrypted by protocol design, so the app warns you and recommends SFTP whenever your host offers it. For the full, code-verified details, see our security page.

One practical note for a shared or school Chromebook: don't save your FTP/SFTP password in the browser's password manager on a device you don't own — because anyone who uses that account afterward can connect to your server with it. Enter it each time instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an FTP client on a Chromebook?

Yes. FilePort Pro runs entirely in the browser, so it works on any Chromebook with Chrome — no software to install, no extension to add, and no Linux (Crostini) container or Android app required. Open the page, enter your server's FTP or SFTP details, and transfer files, the same way you would on a Windows or macOS computer.

Do I need to enable Linux or an Android app to use FTP on a Chromebook?

No. Because FilePort Pro is a web app, it needs only the browser that already comes with ChromeOS. You don't have to turn on Linux (Crostini), install an Android app, or get an admin to approve anything. If Chrome is open, you can connect to FTP or SFTP.

Why can't FilePort Pro connect to a server on my local network?

FilePort Pro relays your connection through a cloud server, so it can only reach hosts that are publicly reachable on the internet — not a server sitting on your home or office LAN. If you're transferring to a device on your local network, you'd need a tool that runs on that machine instead.

Can a managed or school Chromebook still block FTP?

Possibly. A managed Chromebook may have network restrictions — such as blocked ports, outbound proxies, or an allowlisted web filter — that the server-side relay can't bypass. If the connection times out or is refused, check your organization's network policy; on a personal Chromebook these restrictions usually don't apply.

More browser-based FTP and SFTP guides

Ready to connect on your Chromebook, or exploring the options? Start with the general client pages, then match your host:

For more on how your credentials are handled, read the privacy policy or the security page.

Get started — connect from your Chromebook now

No install, no extension, no Linux container, and your credentials are never stored. Connect Now — use FTP or SFTP on your Chromebook

Prefer an encrypted transfer? Use SFTP. Questions about what we store? Read the privacy policy.