Guide

A Safer Way to Use FTP Remotely

For remote access, using VPN + FTP is generally safer than exposing your FTP server directly with DDNS and port forwarding. Connect to your home or NAS network through a VPN first, then use FTP with the local network address.

• Recommended setup: VPN + FTP
• Better security: avoid opening FTP directly to the public internet
• Modern VPN option: WireGuard is simple, fast, and widely recommended
• After VPN connection: add the FTP server using its internal LAN address

How to Add a Server

Open the add server screen in the app, then enter the address, port, username, and password before saving.

• Enter the server address and port
• Enter login information
• Save and test the connection

QR Code Sharing and Scanning

You can easily share and import server connection details with a QR code. This is useful when quickly registering the same server on multiple devices.

• Long-press a server item and select Share QR
• Scan instantly with the camera on another device
• Share the QR image and scan it

Generate Thumbnails

Generate thumbnails in the desired server folder to browse photos and videos quickly in a gallery-style layout.

• Move to a folder containing photos or videos
• Run thumbnail generation
• Supports list mode or grid mode

Share Thumbnails

Share generated thumbnails to quickly send sample images. This is useful when reviewing only the needed scenes first. Unlimited thumbnail sharing is available in PRO.

• Long-press a server item and select Share Thumbnails
• Create a single zip file
• Share while keeping the folder path structure

Folder Tag Feature

Tap the folder name to assign tags. Enter multiple tags separated by commas.

• Tap the folder name to assign tags
• Use commas for multiple tags
• Search tags on the server list screen

Upload and Backup

Back up photos and videos to an FTP server. Long-press the server icon to automatically select items from a specified period.

• Select photos and videos to upload
• Choose the server folder
• Use automatic date-based selection

Play Slideshow

You can automatically play photos in the selected folder. This is ideal for browsing memories stored on the server like an album. This feature is available in PRO.

• Long-press a server item to start the slideshow
• Adjust playback interval
• Play by server unit

Offline Mode

Use pre-generated thumbnails to keep browsing even without internet or with an unstable connection. This is especially useful while on the move.

• Use cached thumbnails
• Works well on unstable networks
• Browse while preserving the server folder structure

Thumbnail Widget

Use generated server photo thumbnails as widgets on the home screen. Thumbnail widgets also work without internet access.

• Generate thumbnails, then go to the settings screen
• Select a folder in widget settings at the bottom
• Use thumbnails based on server photos

Save Video Frame

Save a desired moment from a video as an image. It is saved while preserving the original resolution.

This feature works the same way in the paired video (Live Photo) viewer as well. When you long-press the paired video, Live Photo frames appear at the bottom, and you can save them using the same frame save button.

• Play a video from the server
• Long-press the video to view metadata
• Save a frame from the bottom section of the metadata view

Quick Start

Quick Start is a PRO-only feature that skips the logo screen at launch and takes you directly to the server list screen for faster access.

• Open Settings in TorchPhoto
• Enable the Quick Start feature
• Launch the app and go straight to the server list screen

Thumbnail Cache Backup & Restore

Thumbnail Cache Backup & Restore is a PRO-only feature that lets you back up generated thumbnail cache and restore it later without generating thumbnails again. It is especially useful when using the same server across multiple iOS devices, since you can quickly apply your existing thumbnail cache through backup and sharing instead of repeating the thumbnail generation process on each device. This helps you save time and access your gallery-style thumbnail view much faster after setting up TorchPhoto on another device or restoring your data.

• Open Settings in TorchPhoto
• Go to Thumbnail Cache Backup & Restore
• Back up your generated thumbnail cache or restore a saved backup when needed

LivePhoto Pairing

This feature makes a Live Photo uploaded to the server as one video file and one photo file appear like a Live Photo in the default iOS Photos app. This feature is available in PRO.

• Turn on the Video Pairing feature in Settings
• The photo and video will be shown as a single Live Photo
• A short video will play from the icon in the top-left corner of the photo viewer

Save LivePhoto

You can save a paired Live Photo to the iOS Photos app. In other words, one video file and one photo file are saved together as a single Live Photo. This feature is available in PRO.

• Turn on the Video Pairing feature in Settings
• Play the Live Photo video for the photo you want to save
• Long-press the Live Photo and tap the Save LivePhoto button at the bottom