FileMaster4M · Support

What's free and what's premium?

FileMaster4M is free to download with a full-featured trial of 14 days of use within 60 days of the first download (days you do not open the app do not use up the 14). After the trial, local file management (dual-pane browsing, copy, move, rename, delete, preview, inspector, synced cloud folders) stays free. FTP/SFTP, archive creation and extraction, and the hex editor are unlocked permanently with the optional one-time Lifetime License in-app purchase. The App Store shows the price for your region. No subscription.

I bought the Lifetime License. How do I unlock it on another Mac?

Make sure the Mac is signed in to the same Apple Account you purchased with, then open any premium feature (the unlock screen appears) and click Restore Purchases. The license is tied to your Apple Account, not to a single machine.

What macOS version do I need?

macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. The app is a Universal Binary so it runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.

Why does the app ask for access to my Desktop / Documents / Downloads?

This is a standard macOS App Sandbox / TCC prompt. The app needs your permission to display and manage files in protected folders. It saves a security-scoped bookmark so it can usually reuse access across launches; macOS may ask again if that permission changes.

Which cloud drives are detected, and do I have to set anything up?

iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Box are detected automatically, with no setup. FileMaster4M simply checks whether their local folders exist — iCloud Drive under ~/Library/Mobile Documents, the others under ~/Library/CloudStorage/ — and lists only the providers you actually have installed. There are no cloud APIs, no OAuth and no accounts involved, and no permission is requested until you open one of those locations.

How do I copy / move files between panels?

Keyboard: F5 to copy, F6 to move. Select files first with Space or click + ⌘.

Mouse: Drag the file icon from one panel to the other. Hold Shift while dropping to move instead of copy.

Center button bar: Use the dedicated Copy / Move buttons in the center action column.

How do I connect to an FTP / SFTP server?

Press ⌘K (the arrow keys pick a saved connection, Enter connects), click the FTP button in the center button bar, or open the + menu in a panel toolbar and choose Connect to FTP/SFTP…, then New Connection…. Select the protocol (FTP or SFTP), enter host / port / username, and save. The connection persists between launches; the password is stored in the macOS Keychain.

For SFTP you can optionally use an SSH key (RSA or Ed25519, OpenSSH format) instead of a password: click Browse… next to the SSH Key field in the connection editor.

Can I edit a file directly on the server?

Yes. Select a text file in an FTP or SFTP panel and press F4. FileMaster4M downloads it, opens it in your editor, and every time you save, the file goes straight back to the server. If you do not have permission to write to that file, the app shows the server's error and nothing on the server changes. F4 on a local text file opens it in the editor set in Settings → File Associations, or in TextEdit.

Can I change how often the progress window updates?

Yes: Settings → File Management → Progress refresh rate, from 0.1 to 2 seconds. A longer interval leaves more time for the operation itself.

Is plain FTP safe?

No. Plain FTP transmits your username, password, and file contents in cleartext over the network. The app displays an explicit warning before you enter credentials and recommends SFTP (SSH) instead, which encrypts credentials and file data end-to-end.

What archive formats are supported?

Create (8 formats): ZIP, 7Z (LZMA2), TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, LHA, LZH (stored), CPIO.

Open and extract: ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ, GZ, BZ2, XZ, 7Z, RAR (including RAR4 and RAR5), ISO 9660, LHA, LZH, CPIO, LZFSE. RAR and ISO 9660 are read-only; UDF and DMG images are not treated as ISO 9660.

RAR and ISO readers are compiled into the app. No external command-line tool or download is needed.

Where are my settings stored?

Inside the app's sandbox container: ~/Library/Containers/com.altlogic.filemaster4m/Data/Library/Preferences/com.altlogic.filemaster4m.plist (the system manages this file). Use Settings → Advanced → Reset All Settings and Data to clear your settings (the app will quit afterwards). Trial days already used are kept.

Where are debug logs?

Disabled by default. Enable in Settings → Advanced → Enable Debug Logging, then click Open Logs Folder. Logs are stored under ~/Library/Containers/com.altlogic.filemaster4m/Data/Library/Application Support/FileMaster4M/Logs/ with automatic rotation at 10 MB.

Does the app collect any data?

AltLogic does not receive analytics, telemetry or advertising identifiers from the app. The app can transfer files to FTP/SFTP servers you choose. Files in synced cloud folders may also be handled by the cloud provider's own desktop app. License purchases are processed by Apple. See the Privacy Policy for details.

How do I uninstall FileMaster4M?

Drag FileMaster4M.app from your Applications folder to the Trash. Optionally also remove:

• ~/Library/Containers/com.altlogic.filemaster4m/ (sandbox container: settings, debug logs, bookmarks, persisted state)
• Keychain entries with services com.filemaster4m.ftp (FTP/SFTP passwords) and com.filemaster4m.sftp.knownhosts (pinned SSH host keys), manage in Keychain Access.app

How do I report a bug or request a feature?

Email altlogic.pl@gmail.com with a clear description and the steps to reproduce. Include your macOS version and FileMaster4M version. Screenshots help a lot.