---
title: Configuring SFTP for macOS
slug: campaign/docs/configuring-sftp-for-macos
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:02.898Z
---

This topic describes how to configure and use secure encrypted data transfer with *macOS* (previously OS X) via *Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)*. File transfer is often needed for data exchange when integrating external systems with Optimizely Campaign.

## Configuration steps

1. [Creating a key pair](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)
2. [Downloading and installing Cyberduck](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)
3. [Downloading and installing Cyberduck](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)
4. [Establishing an SFTP server connection](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)

### [configuring-sftp-for-macos.mdx](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)Step 1: Creating a key pair

1. From the **Utilities** folder, open **Terminal**.

   ![Image: Open Terminal](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/nI-IRaU4yMBxvnQIS4ANS-20260720-145223.png "Image: Open Terminal")
2. Enter `ssh-keygen` and press **Enter**.

   ![Image: Enter ssh-keygen](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/p3j9VdcHU4YbyT3IF4LnJ-20260720-145223.png "Image: Enter ssh-keygen")
3. Enter a file path and file name for the key pair. For example, to save the key pair to your desktop in a file called **key**, enter `/Users/<name of your user folder>/Desktop/key`. Press **Enter** to confirm.

   ![Image: Enter file path](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/Q2adTo8D7wwxMcojraPhm-20260720-145223.png "Image: Enter file path")

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
By default, **Terminal** suggests the hidden **.ssh folder** in your user folder as the file location, and the **id\_rsa** as the file name. Unless changed, the key pair is saved in that directory using that file name. The *private key* is given the **id\_rsa** file name, while the *public key* is assigned the **.pub** extension. In this example, the public key name is **id\_rsa.pub**.
:::

:::hint{type="info" indent="2"}
**Note**

To see the name of your user folder, click **Go**>**User folder** in the **MacOS Finder** menu. Finder opens a window with the user folder name at the top.
:::

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/rDir_a6JvfteutY0zg8oH-20260720-145223.png" size="100" caption="Image: User folder" alt="Image: User folder" isUploading="false" showCaption="true" indent="2"}

4. In the **Enter passphrase** dialog box, enter your password (not visible).

   ![Image: Enter passphrase](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/nf7vWZrdVBfMlOtcV3IT5-20260720-145223.png "Image: Enter passphrase")

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Note**

   Remember your password, you need it later to establish a server connection.
   :::
5. Re-enter your password and press **Enter**.
6. The key fingerprint is shown in the **Terminal** window following **The key fingerprint is:**. Copy the key fingerprint to a text document and save it.

   ![Image: Copy key fingerprint](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/k9KjWt62N09ED4lxaU41q-20260720-145223.png "Image: Copy key fingerprint")

### [configuring-sftp-for-macos.mdx](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)Step 2: Configuring a user account for SFTP access

1. Email your public key (file with .pub extension) to Optimizely [customer support](docId\:ZWe1T3UPz3JW6_4mc76qV).
2. In a *separate* email, send your key fingerprint to Optimizely [customer support](docId\:ZWe1T3UPz3JW6_4mc76qV).

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Note**

   For security reasons, do not send the public key and key fingerprint together.
   :::
3. Optimizely customer support configures the account, and sends you an email with your user account data.

### [configuring-sftp-for-macos.mdx](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)Step 3: Downloading and installing Cyberduck

Cyberduck is a free program used for establishing a connection to the server.

1. Using a browser, go to [https://cyberduck.io](https://cyberduck.io/).
2. Click **Download Cyberduck for Mac**.
3. When the download finishes, open the folder with Cyberduck. No installation is required.
4. Optional: move Cyberduck to a permanent folder, such as **Programs** or **Utility programs**.

### [configuring-sftp-for-macos.mdx](docId:82Aeocdt6LT_tgSeTtuIM)Step 4: Establishing an SFTP server connection

1. Open **Cyberduck**.
2. To create a bookmark for connecting to the server, click the plus icon **+** at the bottom.

   ![Image: Add bookmark](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/xe8pbpa4nGveOUBDOGaZD-20260720-145223.png "Image: Add bookmark")
3. Click the top options menu and select **SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol).**

   ![Image: Select SFTP/SSH connection](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/mCxmt-0gtbAkpjzq1zsNE-20260720-145223.png "Image: Select SFTP/SSH connection")
4. Fill out the information as follows.

   ![enable_ssh_authentication.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/d2KnSm4wldZ0hs2S5FrcF-20260720-145223.png)

   - **Nickame**: Enter a name to the bookmark.
   - **Server:** Enter the address `transfer.campaign.optimizely.com`.
   - **Username**: Enter name as provided by Optimizely.
   - In the field **SSH Private Key**, select **Choose ...**
5. Go to your private key folder and select the private key.

   ![choose_private_instead_of_public_key.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/9PJ4eEiCOuFFPt9t3nMx3-20260720-145223.png)

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Note**

   Do not confuse the private key with the public key. When filling in the field **SSH private key** option, make sure to select your private key.
   :::
6. Click **Choose** on the bottom-right.
7. Close the bookmark configuration dialog box by clicking the red close button.

   ![save_settings_by_closing_dialog.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/0BRiUobHHuAcBzP5l_PR0-20260720-145223.png)
8. To establish a server connection, double-click the saved bookmark.

   ![connect_to_optimizely_sftp.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/FExqsEUkxCMSaJ-hwyRk8-20260720-145223.png)
9. When prompted for a password, enter the one from **Step 1: Creating a key pair**.