[5 Days Free] WebDAV Lite - Instantly turn your Mac into a local WebDAV server (From the developer of FloatPic)

[TapFunApp]

Hi MacRumors Community,

I’m the developer of FloatPic, a borderless macOS native image viewer that I shared here a while back. I received incredible feedback from this forum, which allowed me to actively roll out updates and fix edge cases that I completely missed during my initial testing. Thank you all so much for helping me improve!

While updating FloatPic and optimizing my local development workflow, I found myself constantly needing a lightweight, hassle-free way to transfer assets and stream local video files from my Mac to my Apple TV (via Infuse) and iPad. Frustrated by bulky setups and complicated configurations, I decided to build a standalone solution tailored specifically for the menu bar.

Today, I’m excited to share my new app: WebDAV Lite - LAN File Server.

It lives entirely in your menu bar and transforms any designated folder into a lightweight WebDAV server with a single click. It is optimized natively for Apple Silicon & Intel Macs (macOS 14.6+).

Key Features:

• One-Click Sharing: Just choose a folder, toggle the switch, and it's live on your local network.
• Clean Menu Bar Interface: Stays completely out of your Dock with colored indicators showing server status.
• High Compatibility: Full Read/Write & LOCK/UNLOCK support, fully optimized for Infuse, VLC, macOS Finder, and Windows Explorer.
• Secure Access: Built-in random password generator and optional HTTPS/TLS encryption.
• File Exclusion Filters: Manually exclude clutter like .git, node_modules, and .env with one click. System files like .DS_Store, Thumbs.db, and AppleDouble (._*) files are always hidden automati.

To celebrate the launch and give back to this supportive community, the Full Unlock In-App Purchase is 100% FREE for the next 5 days!
Download on the Mac App Store:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/app/webdav-lite-lan-file-server/id6779282964
(Note: The app is free to download; just navigate to the in-app purchase section inside the app to grab the Full Unlock for $0.00. It will automatically revert to its normal price after 5 days.)
Just like with FloatPic, I’m fully open to your feedback, feature requests, and bug reports. Please let me know what you think or how I can make it even better for your workflow!

Cheers,
David

 

[bogdanw]

I can't start the server on Sequoia 15.7.7, it stops immediately. I've tried different ports (80, 8080).
The console does't give additional information and the webdav_lite.log only includes Server started, not Server stopped, that is visible in the console.


Does the app need some permission, like Local Network access?

 

[p33t3r]

Interesting. However, once the Pro features activate there seems to be no way to close that modal box.
Update – using escape worked. It would be nice to have a close button as well.

 

[TapFunApp]

I can't start the server on Sequoia 15.7.7, it stops immediately. I've tried different ports (80, 8080).
The console does't give additional information and the webdav_lite.log only includes Server started, not Server stopped, that is visible in the console.
View attachment 2639638

Does the app need some permission, like Local Network access?

Hi bogdanw,

Sorry about that! I've received similar feedback regarding this issue and have already submitted a hotfix for review. Please note that App Store updates can sometimes be delayed, so you might need to manually check the App Store and update once the new version is live.

Thanks,
David

 

[TapFunApp]

Interesting. However, once the Pro features activate there seems to be no way to close that modal box.
Update – using escape worked. It would be nice to have a close button as well.

Hi p33t3r,

Thanks for the feedback! I've actually just added a proper close button in the upcoming hotfix to make it more intuitive. The update has been submitted for review. Since the Mac App Store doesn't always auto-push updates immediately, please manually check the App Store for the new version once it's live. Thanks again for the heads-up!

Thanks,
David

 

[bzgnyc2]

I am curious what kind of performance do you get using Mac's builtin WebDAV client? Either to your server or another one? I haven't tried it with a recent version of macOS but found it sluggish in previous.

 

[TapFunApp]

I am curious what kind of performance do you get using Mac's builtin WebDAV client? Either to your server or another one? I haven't tried it with a recent version of macOS but found it sluggish in previous.

Your experience matches what most people see—Finder's native WebDAV client is still pretty slow in the latest macOS versions. It treats remote storage too much like a local disk, firing off non-stop background requests for icons, previews, and temporary files.

I designed WebDAV Lite with this exact issue in mind. By automatically filtering out background clutter like .DS_Store and optimizing the connection handling, it helps make that native Finder connection feel much more stable and snappier than usual!

 

[TapFunApp]

Hi MacRumors Community,

I’m the developer of FloatPic, a borderless macOS native image viewer that I shared here a while back. I received incredible feedback from this forum, which allowed me to actively roll out updates and fix edge cases that I completely missed during my initial testing. Thank you all so much for helping me improve!

While updating FloatPic and optimizing my local development workflow, I found myself constantly needing a lightweight, hassle-free way to transfer assets and stream local video files from my Mac to my Apple TV (via Infuse) and iPad. Frustrated by bulky setups and complicated configurations, I decided to build a standalone solution tailored specifically for the menu bar.

Today, I’m excited to share my new app: WebDAV Lite - LAN File Server.

It lives entirely in your menu bar and transforms any designated folder into a lightweight WebDAV server with a single click. It is optimized natively for Apple Silicon & Intel Macs (macOS 14.6+).

Key Features:

• One-Click Sharing: Just choose a folder, toggle the switch, and it's live on your local network.
• Clean Menu Bar Interface: Stays completely out of your Dock with colored indicators showing server status.
• High Compatibility: Full Read/Write & LOCK/UNLOCK support, fully optimized for Infuse, VLC, macOS Finder, and Windows Explorer.
• Secure Access: Built-in random password generator and optional HTTPS/TLS encryption.
• Automatic Filtering: Automatically excludes clutter like .DS_Store, .git, and node_modules.

To celebrate the launch and give back to this supportive community, the Full Unlock In-App Purchase is 100% FREE for the next 5 days!
Download on the Mac App Store:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/app/webdav-lite-lan-file-server/id6779282964
(Note: The app is free to download; just navigate to the in-app purchase section inside the app to grab the Full Unlock for $0.00. It will automatically revert to its normal price after 5 days.)
Just like with FloatPic, I’m fully open to your feedback, feature requests, and bug reports. Please let me know what you think or how I can make it even better for your workflow!

Cheers,
David

Hi everyone,

First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for the initial bugs that affected your experience. Thank you so much to those who reported them—your quick feedback allowed me to push out the hotfixes right away!

To make it up to this amazing community and ensure everyone gets a proper chance to try the app fully optimized, I’m extending the 100% FREE Full Unlock for an additional 3 days! This means you now have 8 days in total from the launch to grab the Pro upgrade for $0.00 inside the app.

If you experienced any issues earlier, please make sure to manually check the Mac App Store and update to the latest version.

Thank you all again for your incredible support and patience!

Cheers,
David

 

[bogdanw]

Version 1.1.1 crashed as well, but version 1.1.2 is working properly on Sequoia 15.7.7 MBA M1.

I've tested https as well by generating and importing a key and a certificate:
openssl genrsa -out 192.168.0.4.key 2048 openssl req -new -x509 -key 192.168.0.4.key -out 192.168.0.4.crt -days 365 -subj /CN=192.168.0.4
where 192.168.0.4 is the local IP address of the Mac.
One small issue, the app doesn't link the https version of the server https://192.168.0.4:8088 and opening the http link results in "Client sent an HTTP request to an HTTPS server."

Another small issue, a .DS_Store file was visible, but it can be hidden after using Quick Add to add it to the Exclusion List. The description "Automatic Filtering: Automatically excludes clutter like .DS_Store, .git, and node_modules." made me think that .DS_Store files are excluded by default.

 

[TapFunApp]

Version 1.1.1 crashed as well, but version 1.1.2 is working properly on Sequoia 15.7.7 MBA M1.

I've tested https as well by generating and importing a key and a certificate:
openssl genrsa -out 192.168.0.4.key 2048
openssl req -new -x509 -key 192.168.0.4.key -out 192.168.0.4.crt -days 365 -subj /CN=192.168.0.4
where 192.168.0.4 is the local IP address of the Mac.
One small issue, the app doesn't link the https version of the server https://192.168.0.4:8088 and opening the http link results in "Client sent an HTTP request to an HTTPS server."

Another small issue, a .DS_Store file was visible, but it can be hidden after using Quick Add to add it to the Exclusion List. The description "Automatic Filtering: Automatically excludes clutter like .DS_Store, .git, and node_modules." made me think that .DS_Store files are excluded by default.

@bogdanw Thank you so much for the detailed testing and for your constructive feedback! I'm glad to hear that version 1.1.2 is working properly on your Sequoia 15.7.7 system.

I have addressed the issue regarding the HTTPS link and released version 1.1.3 to fix it. Please update to the latest version and test it when you have a moment.

Regarding the .DS_Store filtering, I sincerely apologize for the confusion caused by my original description. I have updated the main post to clarify how the filtering works. Thank you for pointing this out—it really helps me improve the app for everyone!

 

[bogdanw]

Working perfectly, even in macOS 27.0 Beta 2 (26A5368g) 🙂

 

[gilby101]

Thanks for the free Pro.

How does this compare with https://schimera.com/products/webdav-nav-server/. At first sight it seems very similar.

 

[TapFunApp]

Thanks for the free Pro.

How does this compare with https://schimera.com/products/webdav-nav-server/. At first sight it seems very similar.

Hi gilby101,

That’s a fair question! Looking at the App Store, there are indeed a few solutions in this space, including WebDAV Nav Server, which has been a staple for a long time. It’s natural for apps in the same category to share similar core functionalities—after all, they are all built to follow the WebDAV protocol.

To provide some context on how WebDAV Lite differs, I’ve put together a few points based on my personal development goals:

Feature/Focus	WebDAV Nav Server	WebDAV Lite (My Project)
Primary Design	Feature-rich, traditional server app.	Menu-bar native, "Set it and forget it" workflow.
Intended User	Power users needing extensive configurations.	Users wanting quick, invisible local network sharing.
Integration	Standalone window-based management.	Native macOS Menu Bar presence (no Dock icon).
Optimization	Broad feature set.	Focused on low-latency streaming & Infuse/VLC stability.
Core Philosophy	Comprehensive toolset.	Minimalism and silent operation in the background.

While WebDAV Nav Server offers a vast array of features for different use cases, WebDAV Lite was born out of a specific need for a "silent" server that lives in the Menu Bar—designed specifically to solve the connection stability and configuration friction I was experiencing with my daily media workflow.

I see my project as a more streamlined, "lite" alternative for users who want to turn their Mac into a file server without the overhead of managing a complex application.

I appreciate you bringing this up! It’s always great to have healthy competition, and I’m definitely continuing to iterate on WebDAV Lite based on community feedback to make it the most reliable tool it can be.

Best,
David

 

[Shelly74]

I miss add more folders

 

[TapFunApp]

I miss add more folders

Hi Shelly74, thanks for the feedback!

To help me understand your specific use case better: are these folders located in very different areas of your drive, or do you have a specific reason why putting them into one parent folder doesn't fit your workflow?

WebDAV Lite is currently optimized for a 'one-service' approach to keep things lightweight and stable in the menu bar. However, I’m always open to improving the experience. Knowing your specific needs helps me decide how to approach potential updates or find better ways to handle folder structures in the future. Cheers!

 

[Shelly74]

Yes different Folders

 

[TapFunApp]

Yes different Folders

Hi Shelly74, thanks for clarifying! I completely understand that having multiple distinct folders is a common requirement for organizing different projects.

While WebDAV Lite is currently built with a 'one-service' architecture to ensure it remains lightweight and stable in the menu bar, I’ve noted your request. I’m currently looking into how I might implement multi-folder support without compromising the app's performance or simplicity.

Your feedback is really helpful for my development roadmap. Thanks for the support!