Feature • Last updated: July 2026

S3-Compatible Storage Client for Windows

Connect any S3-compatible storage from a real Windows file manager - MinIO, Ceph, Storj, Garage and more - by pointing FTPie at a custom endpoint.

The S3 API has become the common language of object storage, and dozens of servers speak it - MinIO, Ceph, Storj, SeaweedFS, Garage, and every managed gateway. FTPie's S3-Compatible connector lets you point at any of them: give it an endpoint and a key, and your buckets show up in a dual-pane file manager, next to your clouds, FTP servers and NAS.

It's the same engine behind FTPie's Amazon S3, Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, Wasabi and DigitalOcean Spaces connectors - so if your provider isn't in that list but speaks S3, this is how you connect it.

What you'll need

  • Endpoint - the base URL of your S3 server, e.g. http://localhost:9000 or https://s3.example.com
  • Access Key ID and Secret Access Key
  • A bucket that already exists on the server
  • Optional: a Region (defaults to us-east-1; most self-hosted servers ignore it) and a Bucket name if your key is scoped to one bucket

Where to get your endpoint and keys

  1. From your server's admin - for MinIO, the endpoint is the address it serves on (e.g. http://localhost:9000), and the keys are the access/secret you configured.
  2. For a hosted gateway (Ceph RGW, Storj, etc.), take the S3 endpoint URL and an access key / secret from its console.
  3. Make sure a bucket exists - create one in the server's UI or CLI if needed.

How to connect in FTPie

  1. Add a new storage and choose S3-Compatible (under Enterprise Storage).
  2. Enter the Endpoint, then the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key. Leave Region empty unless your server needs a specific one.
  3. If your key covers a single bucket, put its name in the Bucket field.
  4. Click Test connection, and save.

Works with

  • MinIO - self-hosted, local or on a server
  • Ceph (RADOS Gateway)
  • Storj, SeaweedFS, Garage and other S3 gateways
  • Any provider or appliance that exposes an S3-compatible endpoint

Good to know about object storage

  • "Folders" are name prefixes, not real directories. FTPie shows them as folders; under the hood a folder is a shared prefix on object names.
  • A plain http:// endpoint is fine for local or LAN servers; use https:// over the internet.
  • Region is usually irrelevant for self-hosted S3 - leave it on the default unless your server rejects it.
  • Share links are per-file and time-limited, and only resolve where the endpoint is reachable.

Common questions

What endpoint do I enter?

The base URL of your S3 server - e.g. http://localhost:9000 for MinIO, or https://s3.example.com for a gateway. Include the port if it isn't standard.

Does it need HTTPS?

No - plain http:// works for local or LAN servers. Use https:// for anything over the internet.

Do I have to set a region?

No - it's optional and defaults to us-east-1. Most self-hosted servers ignore it; set it only if your server is configured for a specific region.

Is it free in FTPie?

S3-compatible storage is part of FTPie Pro (with a 14-day trial). See the plan comparison.

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