FTP is the classic file-transfer protocol. Bifrost speaks plain FTP and encrypted FTPS (FTP over TLS), with the same file browser you get over SFTP. If the server offers SSH, prefer the SFTP article — it’s simpler and always encrypted — but when you only have FTP, this is for you.
1. Add an FTP connection
Create a connection, set the protocol to FTP, then fill in:
- Host and Port — 21 for plain FTP and STARTTLS, 990 for implicit FTPS (Bifrost fills the right default when you pick the encryption mode).
- Username and password — for anonymous servers, use
anonymousas the username. - Encryption (see below).
- Remote directory (optional) — a starting folder; leave it empty to open the server’s default directory.
- Passive mode and Show hidden files — see below.
2. Encryption & security
FTP has no encryption by itself — with plain FTP, your username, password and files travel in clear text. Bifrost offers three modes:
| Mode | Port | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| None (FTP) | 21 | Plain FTP — unencrypted. Use only on a trusted local network. |
| STARTTLS (Explicit) | 21 | Connects on 21, then upgrades to TLS. The common, recommended FTPS mode. |
| Implicit FTPS | 990 | TLS from the very first byte, on a dedicated port. |
Prefer STARTTLS or Implicit FTPS whenever the server supports them — or use SFTP instead, which is encrypted by design.
3. Passive mode
Passive mode (on by default) lets the client open the data connection, which is what works through NAT and firewalls in almost all cases. Turn it off only for a server that specifically requires active mode.
4. Browse and transfer
Once connected, the file browser is exactly the same as over SFTP — so everything in the SFTP article applies:
- Upload with the button or by dragging from Finder; download with the button or by dragging items out to Finder (or an external disk), streamed directly to the destination.
- The transfers panel with progress, queue and counters, pause/resume, cancel, and the overwrite prompt (Replace / Keep both / Skip).
- Edit a remote file in place (auto re-upload on save), rename, move, delete, and multiple selection.
The one difference: FTP transfers run one at a time (its control channel handles a single command at once), whereas SFTP runs several in parallel.
Good to know
- Group defaults apply: set a default FTP port and encryption on a group and the connections inside inherit them.
- Hidden files (dotfiles) are shown when Show hidden files is on.
- A momentarily busy server is retried automatically before a transfer is marked failed.