# Tigris GUI Client (2026): Browse Tigris Buckets on Mac, iPhone, and Web

> A Tigris GUI client for buckets made in the Tigris console or with fly storage create. Create an access key, use t3.storage.dev with region auto, and connect BucketMate on macOS, iOS, and Web.

Canonical: https://www.bucketmate.app/blogs/tigris-gui-client

Tigris is globally distributed, S3-compatible object storage. Data follows your users around the world, the price is the same in every region, and there are no egress fees. It is also the default object storage for apps on Fly.io, where one command creates a bucket and wires its keys into your app.

Because Tigris speaks the S3 API, any S3 client that supports a custom endpoint can work with it. A GUI client makes the daily jobs quick: see what your app uploaded, drag files in and out, preview images and JSON, and hand someone a temporary link.

BucketMate is a local-first S3 GUI for macOS, iOS, and Web. Tigris has its own option in the provider picker, with the endpoint and region already filled in.

> [Download BucketMate](https://www.bucketmate.app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=tigris-gui) for macOS, get the [iOS app](https://www.bucketmate.app/ios) on iPhone and iPad, or open the [Web app](https://web.bucketmate.app). Start on the free plan and upgrade with a one-time Pro license - see [pricing](https://www.bucketmate.app/pricing).


## The three values every Tigris client needs

- **Endpoint**: `https://t3.storage.dev`
- **Region**: `auto`
- **Access key ID and secret**: the key ID starts with `tid_` and the secret with `tsec_`

There is no regional endpoint to choose. Tigris decides where to store and cache data based on where it is read and written. Older setups may use `https://fly.storage.tigris.dev`, which still works, but new connections should use `t3.storage.dev`.


## Get a Tigris access key

You can get keys two ways, depending on how you use Tigris.

### From the Tigris console

1. Sign in at [console.storage.dev](https://console.storage.dev). If your buckets came from Fly.io, sign in with Fly.io and you will see the same buckets.
2. Open **Access Keys** and create a new key.
3. Give the key access to the buckets you want to browse. Editor access lets you upload, rename, and delete. Read-only access is enough for browsing and downloads.
4. Copy the access key ID and the secret. Store the secret somewhere safe.

### From Fly.io

Running `fly storage create` in a Fly app creates a bucket and prints an access key and secret. Fly also sets them as secrets on your app. You can paste the same pair into BucketMate, or create a separate key in the Tigris console so you can revoke it without touching your app.

A separate key for each person or tool is the safer habit. If a laptop is lost, you revoke one key and your production app keeps running.


## Connect Tigris in BucketMate

The flow is the same on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and the web.

1. Open BucketMate and choose **Add connection**.
2. Select **Tigris** as the provider.
3. On macOS and iOS, the endpoint `https://t3.storage.dev` and region `auto` are already filled in. On the web, enter `https://t3.storage.dev` and keep the region `auto`.
4. Paste the access key ID and secret.
5. If the key only has access to some buckets, turn off **Load all buckets** and type the bucket names.

These three values are all BucketMate needs:

![Tigris needs the endpoint t3.storage.dev, region auto, and an access key](/blogs/tigris-gui-client/tigris-setup.png)

On macOS, the form fills in the Tigris endpoint and region for you:

![Add Tigris connection in BucketMate for macOS, with t3.storage.dev and region auto filled in](/blogs/tigris-gui-client/add-connection.png)

6. Choose **Test connection**, then save.

Your Tigris buckets now open like folders. Drag files in from Finder or the Files app, rename and move folders, preview common formats, and copy presigned links for private objects.

Keys stay on your device. The Mac and iOS apps keep them in Apple Keychain, and the Web app keeps them in your browser profile with optional passkey encryption. Requests go straight from your device to Tigris, never through BucketMate servers.


## Why a GUI fits Tigris well

### No egress fees means browsing is free

On providers that charge for egress, previewing a large video or pulling a folder down to check it costs money. Tigris charges nothing for data going out, so opening files in a GUI to look at them does not show up on your bill. You still pay for storage and requests, and the free tier covers the first 5 GB of Standard storage plus a monthly batch of requests.

### One window for every cloud

Many Tigris users also have data in AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, or Hetzner Object Storage. In BucketMate each provider is a connection, and you can group them in a workspace. When you move assets to Tigris, you can keep the old and new buckets side by side and drag files across.

### Storage tiers you can see

Tigris offers Standard, Infrequent Access, and archive tiers. BucketMate for Mac shows each file's storage class and lets you change it. Remember the minimums before you move files: Infrequent Access has a 30 day minimum and the archive tiers have 90 days.

### Your app's files on your phone

When a user reports a broken upload, you can open the bucket from your iPhone, find the object, and check its size and metadata without opening a laptop.


## Fixing common connection errors

| Error | Likely cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `AccessDenied` | The key has no access to the bucket | Give the key access to the bucket in **Access Keys** |
| `InvalidAccessKeyId` | Key deleted, or key and secret swapped | Key IDs start with `tid_`, secrets with `tsec_` |
| `SignatureDoesNotMatch` | Wrong secret, or region is not `auto` | Set region to `auto` and paste the secret again |

Tigris only supports long-lived access key and secret pairs. Temporary credentials from STS are not supported.


## GUI or command line?

Use both. The Tigris CLI, the AWS CLI, and the SDKs are the right tools for deploy scripts, CI jobs, and bulk syncs. A GUI is faster when you are exploring: checking what a job wrote, fixing a single file, or grabbing a share link. Since both use the same keys and endpoint, you can switch between them freely.


## FAQ

### Does Tigris have a desktop app?

Tigris offers a web console for buckets and access keys. BucketMate adds a native Mac and iOS app, plus a web app, that browses Tigris buckets over the S3 API.

### What region do I use for Tigris?

Always `auto`, with the endpoint `https://t3.storage.dev`.

### Can I use the keys from fly storage create?

Yes. They are regular Tigris access keys. For a desktop client, a separate key you can revoke on its own is a good idea.

### Is BucketMate free for Tigris?

The free plan includes one connection, one workspace, and uploads up to 100 MB per file. Pro is a one-time purchase that removes those limits.


## Related resources

- [Tigris GUI client page](/s3-client/tigris) - setup in three steps
- [Hetzner Object Storage GUI client guide](/blogs/hetzner-object-storage-gui-client)
- [Cloudflare R2 GUI for macOS](/blogs/cloudflare-r2-gui-macos)
- [Best S3 GUI for macOS](/blogs/best-s3-gui-macos-2026)
- [BucketMate pricing](https://www.bucketmate.app/pricing)
- [BucketMate for iOS](https://www.bucketmate.app/ios)
- [Download BucketMate](https://www.bucketmate.app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=tigris-gui)