FTP & SFTP Client for iPad & iPhone — From Safari, No App

Most FTP apps for iPad are App Store downloads that cost money or push subscriptions. FilePort Pro runs in Safari, so on an iPad or iPhone you can connect to an FTP or SFTP server and manage files on the go — without installing a separate app for the core connect, browse, upload, and download flow.

Connect Now — use FTP or SFTP on your iPad

Works in Safari on iPad and iPhone

iPadOS is a closed platform: you can only run what Apple approves, so an FTP client usually means downloading an app from the App Store. FilePort Pro sidesteps that — it's a web FTP and SFTP client that runs in Safari or any iOS browser. If you can open a web page on your tablet, you can reach your server. Everything works with the same on-screen keyboard and familiar iPad controls you already use.

The same app works on a Chromebook, a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer, or another tablet — so you can start a transfer on your iPad and finish it at your desk with one consistent workflow.

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 tap Connect.
Browse your server — navigate folders with breadcrumb navigation, just like a file manager.
Upload files — upload from your iPad's photo library or Downloads, or several files at once.
Download files and folders — download individual files or a whole folder as a ZIP archive to the Files app.
Manage a web host — upload themes, plugins, and media to your hosting account on the move, without a desktop or a dedicated app.

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 using it on an iPad comes with a few honest limits you should know:

iPadOS file integration is limited from a web page. You can upload from the photo library or Downloads and download to the Files app, but deep, full navigation of the Files app from a browser page is not guaranteed. For heavy in-Files file management, a dedicated native app may still be a better fit.
Managed networks can still block you. A restricted network may block FTP/SFTP ports, run an outbound proxy, or use an allowlisted web filter that the server-side relay cannot bypass. If the connection times out or is refused, the block is usually the network's policy.
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 a server on your home or office network.
No persistent server list. Credentials are per-session and memory-only. There's no saved server list on the device — you enter your details each time, and nothing is stored.

Common iPad 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 restricted network. On a school or work network, check whether it allows outbound FTP/SFTP; if it doesn't, you can't reach the server from that network.
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.
TLS or proxy issues on restricted networks — some managed or public Wi‑Fi networks inspect or block encrypted traffic. If SFTP fails on one network but works at home, the network, not your settings, is usually the cause.
"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.

Is a browser-based FTP client secure on an iPad?

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 on a shared or borrowed iPad: don't save your FTP/SFTP password in the browser's password manager on a device you don't own — enter it each time instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an FTP client on an iPad without an app?

Yes. FilePort Pro runs entirely in the browser, so it works on an iPad or iPhone in Safari (or any iOS browser) with no App Store app to download. Open the page, enter your server's FTP or SFTP details, and you can connect, browse, upload, and download files from the server.

Can I upload photos or downloads from my iPad?

Yes, with some limits. From a web page you can upload from your iPad's photo library or from Downloads, and you can download files to the Files app. Deep, full navigation of the Files app from a browser page is not guaranteed, so for heavy file-management tasks inside Files you may still prefer a dedicated app.

Why can't FilePort Pro reach 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.

Does FilePort Pro store my server credentials on the iPad?

No. Credentials are held in memory only for the active session, never stored or logged, and the session ends when you disconnect or after about 15 minutes of inactivity. There is no persistent server list — you enter your details each session, and nothing is saved to the device.

More browser-based FTP and SFTP guides

Using FTP or SFTP on the move? Start with the general client pages, then match your device or host:

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

Get started — connect from your iPad now

No app download, no subscription, and your credentials are never stored. Connect Now — use FTP or SFTP on your iPad

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