If FTP connection stops working after an update—or the app only runs in Offline Mode—please long-press the server entry and double-check the username and password.

Why FTP Only ?

FTP is widely supported across servers, and TorchPhoto is designed around a simple workflow:

FTP was chosen because it is one of the most widely supported connection methods across many server devices and server setups. TorchPhoto is designed around a simple workflow: generate thumbnails first on a stable home or local Wi-Fi connection, then browse your album later more comfortably. Even after leaving Wi-Fi, you can still navigate using the locally stored thumbnails, and when needed, access the original files over mobile data. In practice, this lets users prepare their photo library in advance at home, then continue browsing outside without needing to rebuild thumbnails every time. Because the app relies on locally cached thumbnails after the initial setup, this approach can also reduce the need for constant direct server access during everyday viewing.

Free vs PRO

The Free version gives you access to the core TorchPhoto experience.
PRO unlocks extra features and removes key limits, making it much more comfortable to browse larger photo and video libraries.

PRO Features

1. Unlimited Thumbnail Cache
The Free version supports thumbnail browsing, but it is limited to 200MB.
PRO removes the cache limit so you can store more thumbnails locally.

2. Video Pairing
PRO can automatically match photos and videos with the same filename, making related media easier to browse together.

3. Large Video Thumbnail Generation
In Free, videos larger than 50MB are excluded from thumbnail generation.
PRO removes this limit so more videos can be included.

4. Slideshow
PRO lets you play slideshows that start with generated thumbnails and smoothly transition to the original image when available. 

5. No Time Limit for Thumbnail Sharing
In Free, shared thumbnail images for sample transfer are limited to 30 minutes.
PRO removes this time limit.

Q&A

Q: What is TorchPhoto?

A: TorchPhoto is an iOS app that connects to your FTP or NAS server and lets you browse photos and videos like an album—not like a generic file explorer. It is built for fast media viewing, thumbnail browsing, and practical photo/video workflows on iPhone and iPad.

Q: Is TorchPhoto a cloud storage service?

A: No. TorchPhoto is not a cloud storage service. It works with your own FTP/NAS storage, so you can browse media directly from your server without relying on a separate cloud platform.

Q: Is TorchPhoto an FTP file explorer?

A: TorchPhoto connects through FTP, but it is designed around photo and video browsing. The focus is on album-style viewing, previews, thumbnails, slideshow playback, and quick access to visual media.

Q: Does TorchPhoto work with NAS devices like Synology or QNAP?

A: Yes. If your NAS supports FTP access, TorchPhoto can connect and browse photos and videos stored on it.

Q: Can I use TorchPhoto with both FTP servers and NAS storage?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is designed for FTP-based media browsing, whether your files are stored on a standalone FTP server or a NAS device with FTP enabled.

Q: Who is TorchPhoto for?

A: TorchPhoto is useful for anyone who stores photos and videos on FTP or NAS and wants to browse them quickly on iPhone or iPad. It works especially well for photographers, real estate teams, field workers, content teams, resellers, and anyone managing large image libraries.

Q: Can I browse photos in a grid view?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports both grid and list layouts, so you can choose the view that feels best for browsing your folders.

Q: Does TorchPhoto support video browsing too?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports both photos and videos in the same folder view, so mixed media folders feel natural to browse.

Q: Can I preview videos inside the app?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports video preview and playback, making it easy to review clips stored on your FTP/NAS server.

Q: Does TorchPhoto support both photos and videos in the same folder?

A: Yes. Mixed folders with photos and videos can be browsed together just like an album.

Q: Can I search for files in TorchPhoto?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto includes search to help you find photos and videos faster inside your folder structure.

Q: Can I sort files and folders?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports sorting options so you can browse your media in a more organized way.

Q: Can I filter to show only photos or only videos?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports media-focused browsing, which makes it easier to hide unrelated files and focus on photos or videos.

Q: Can I check metadata for photos and videos?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto lets you view metadata for both photos and videos.

Q: Does TorchPhoto show EXIF information?

A: Yes. For supported files, TorchPhoto can show metadata such as capture time and other available information.

Q: Does it show when and where a photo was taken?

A: Yes. If the file contains that metadata, TorchPhoto can display the timestamp and location information.

Q: Will a photo without GPS data still show an address?

A: No. If the file does not include location data, TorchPhoto will show the time only and not an address.

Q: Can I upload photos and videos from my iPhone to my FTP/NAS server?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports uploading photos and videos to your FTP or NAS server.

Q: Can I upload multiple files at once?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports batch upload, so you can select multiple items and upload them together.

Q: Does TorchPhoto support a workflow like FTP camera upload?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto works well for workflows where you capture media, upload it to FTP/NAS, and then browse it as an album.

Q: Is there an upload history or upload log?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto includes an Upload Log so you can review upload results, including success and failure records.

Q: Can I download photos and videos from my NAS or FTP server?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports downloading photos and videos from your server to your iPhone or iPad.

Q: Can I share photos and videos from TorchPhoto?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports sharing through the iOS share sheet.

Q: Can I share directly from the video preview screen?

A: Yes. Videos can be shared directly from preview using the iOS share sheet.

Q: What is the thumbnail generation feature?

A: TorchPhoto can generate thumbnails in advance so browsing stays fast and lightweight, especially in large folders or slower network environments.

Q: Why are thumbnails useful?

A: Thumbnails make browsing much faster because you do not need to wait for every original file to load each time you open a folder.

Q: Does TorchPhoto download full originals when generating thumbnails?

A: No. The feature is focused on generating thumbnail images for browsing, not downloading your full library as original files.

Q: Can I browse thumbnails offline?

A: Yes. After thumbnails have been generated, you can browse cached thumbnails offline even without an internet connection.

Q: Does the server need to stay online for offline thumbnail browsing?

A: No. Once thumbnails are cached, they remain viewable on your device without requiring the server to be reachable.

Q: Is TorchPhoto useful in poor network conditions?

A: Yes. Thumbnail-based browsing helps a lot in weak signal or unstable network environments because you can still review cached visual previews quickly.

Q: Can I share the thumbnails themselves?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports Thumbnail Share, which lets you share thumbnail images more lightly and quickly.

Q: What is Thumbnail Share useful for?

A: It is useful when you want to send quick visual samples without sending large original files. This is especially practical for previews, selections, and fast client communication.

Q: Can I show thumbnails in an iOS widget?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto can display thumbnail images in an iOS widget.

Q: Does TorchPhoto support slideshow playback?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto includes Slideshow, so you can play your server-based photo collection like a digital frame or presentation.

Q: What is Slideshow useful for?

A: Slideshow is useful for quick review, client presentation, showroom display, portfolio playback, or simply turning an unused iPhone or iPad into a lightweight photo frame.

Q: Can TorchPhoto help with Live Photos stored as separate files on NAS?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto helps you view Live Photos more naturally even when they exist as separate photo and video files on your NAS or FTP server.

Q: Can I use TorchPhoto for large folders with many images?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is built around thumbnail-driven browsing, which helps large media folders feel faster and more manageable.

Q: Can multiple people access the same server library?

A: Yes. If they have server access, multiple users can browse the same FTP/NAS photo library on their own devices.

Q: Does TorchPhoto support sharing server access with QR codes?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports Share QR, making it much easier to pass server connection information to another user without manual entry.

Q: What is Share QR useful for?

A: Share QR helps reduce setup friction. Instead of typing server details manually, another user can quickly apply the shared server information and start browsing faster.

Q: Can TorchPhoto recognize a shared QR setup more easily for new users?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is designed to make QR-based server onboarding more convenient, especially for users receiving server access from someone else.

Q: Does TorchPhoto separate different servers correctly?

A: Yes. Servers are treated as different when the host and port combination is different.

Q: Will cache or thumbnail data mix between servers that use the same host but different ports?

A: No. TorchPhoto keeps cache and browsing data separated by host:port, so data from different servers does not get mixed together.

Q: Can I delete cache for a specific server only?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto supports per-server cache deletion, and it also supports clearing cache for all servers.

Q: Is TorchPhoto available on iPhone and iPad?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is designed for iOS devices, including iPhone and iPad.

Q: Do I need a separate cloud account to use TorchPhoto?

A: No. TorchPhoto is built around your own FTP/NAS storage, so no separate cloud account is required for the core workflow.

Q: Is TorchPhoto good for photographers and media teams?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is useful for photographers, editors, and media teams who need fast server browsing, sample sharing, quick review, and lightweight preview workflows on iPhone or iPad.

Q: Is TorchPhoto useful for business workflows?

A: Yes. It works well in industries where large numbers of photos or videos are stored on servers and need to be reviewed, reused, or shared quickly.

Q: What makes TorchPhoto different from a generic FTP app?

A: Generic FTP apps focus on file management. TorchPhoto focuses on photo and video viewing, thumbnail generation, offline thumbnail browsing, album-style navigation, Share QR, Thumbnail Share, metadata viewing, and slideshow playback.

Q: Can TorchPhoto be used as a practical NAS photo viewer on iOS?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is designed to feel like a practical NAS photo and video viewer for iPhone and iPad, especially when your server is accessed through FTP.

Q: Can TorchPhoto help me browse server media like a gallery?

A: Yes. TorchPhoto is built to make FTP/NAS media browsing feel closer to a gallery or album experience rather than a technical file browser.