Ipfs Upload Client is a small, free, open-source command-line tool for uploading files and directories to IPFS, the InterPlanetary File System. It is aimed at developers, system administrators and hobbyists who want a scriptable way to publish content without running a full IPFS node. The tool sends your data to Infura's IPFS service or to another API endpoint you choose.
Before you install it, note the project's status. The latest version is v0.1.2, and the last code update was on December 1, 2022, more than three years before this page was written. That means the tool may not match current IPFS APIs, so test it with harmless files and check the repository's activity first.
What Is IPFS and Why Upload to It?
IPFS, short for InterPlanetary File System, is a peer-to-peer protocol for storing and sharing files. Instead of pointing to a server by location, IPFS identifies each file by a content identifier, usually called a CID, which is derived from the file's contents. If the content changes, its CID changes too, so anyone holding a CID can verify they received exactly the expected data.
This model suits static assets, documentation, datasets and public archives that should stay reachable under the same address. Uploading to IPFS does not automatically guarantee that a file stays online. Availability depends on nodes or services that keep a copy, which is why the term pinning comes up so often.
For a developer, the practical question is how a file gets onto the network in the first place. That is where a small uploader such as Ipfs Upload Client fits into a workflow.
Who Is Ipfs Upload Client For?
The tool fits people who are comfortable typing commands and want a predictable way to send content to IPFS. A web developer might use it as the final step of a build script, sending the output folder of a static site after each release. A researcher might upload a set of data files and share the resulting identifiers with collaborators.
It is also useful for learning. Someone exploring IPFS can upload a text file, look at the identifier returned, and see how the same content produces the same address. That hands-on test teaches more about content addressing than reading about it alone.
It is less suited to people who want a graphical interface or who need an always-on node that serves content to others. For those needs, a node application or a desktop manager is a better match. Ipfs Upload Client is a precise tool for a narrow job, and it works best when the user knows exactly what they want to send and where.
How API Endpoint Uploads Work
When you run an upload, the client sends your file or directory to an HTTP API endpoint, and that endpoint adds the content to IPFS. Infura's IPFS service is one such endpoint. Because the tool delegates storage to the endpoint, it stays small and does not need to run its own node or manage a large local repository.
This design has trade-offs. Your upload depends on the endpoint being available, and any authentication, size limits or usage rules come from that provider rather than from the tool. Read the endpoint's documentation before you begin, and find out what credentials it expects.
A few habits make the process more reliable. Test with a small file first, keep a written record of every identifier the upload returns, and confirm that the content opens through a public gateway. These checks take only a few minutes and catch problems before a larger batch goes out.
Key features
Direct File and Directory Uploads
Infura or Custom API Endpoints
Minimal Command-Line Design
How to install Ipfs Upload Client on Windows
- 1
Get the program from GitHub
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/infura/ipfs-upload-client. Open the Releases page and look for a Windows build among the release files, because Windows support is listed as likely rather than confirmed.
- 2
Verify the download
If the release includes a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compare it with your downloaded file using a standard hash tool before running anything. A mismatch means the file should not be used, and you should download it again from the same official source.
- 3
Place the program in a folder
Extract the program to a folder you control, such as a dedicated tools directory in your user profile. If you want to run it from any location in Command Prompt or PowerShell, add that folder to your PATH environment variable.
-
Build from source only if needed
Building from source requires the Go toolchain, but that is needed only if you compile the program yourself. The ready-made Windows build does not require Go to be installed on your PC.
How to use Ipfs Upload Client
Once the program is on your PC, the workflow is short. You open a terminal, point the tool at a file or folder, and record the content identifier returned for the upload. Start with a small test file so you can confirm the endpoint works before sending anything important.
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and change to the folder that contains the program, or run it from anywhere if you added that folder to your PATH.
- Check the program's help output to confirm it starts correctly before your first upload.
- Choose the endpoint you want to use. For Infura's IPFS service, follow Infura's documentation to obtain any credentials it requires.
- Run the tool with the path to a small test file.
- Record the content identifier the tool returns for the upload.
- Open that identifier through a public IPFS gateway in your browser to confirm the file is reachable.
- Once the single-file test works, repeat the process with a small directory and keep a log of every identifier for your records.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code publicly available on GitHub
- Small, focused command-line tool that does one job well
- Supports uploads to Infura's IPFS service or another API endpoint
- Directory uploads save time compared with sending items one by one
- Written in Go, a language widely used for command-line utilities
- The last code update was on December 1, 2022, so recent activity is limited
- The latest version is v0.1.2, which signals an early-stage project
- Windows support is listed as likely rather than formally confirmed
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface
- Reliability depends on the API endpoint you choose
Is Ipfs Upload Client safe?
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, and use the Releases page for builds. Where the project publishes a SHA-256 checksum or signature, compare it with your download before running the file. Antivirus tools may flag unfamiliar command-line programs, so review any warning carefully instead of turning protection off. The tool does not manage wallets or private keys, but anything you upload to IPFS can be retrieved by anyone who has its content identifier, so keep private documents off the network. Because the last update dates to 2022, check the latest version on the official website before relying on it for any real work.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/infura/ipfs-upload-client. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Ipfs Upload Client occupies a narrow niche. Kubo is the reference IPFS node, so it runs the full protocol on your machine, while this tool only sends files to an endpoint. IPFS Desktop keeps a node running in the system tray and suits people who prefer a visual way to manage content. Pinner CLI is also a command-line tool, but it focuses on pinning content rather than uploading it through an API. Storj takes a different route, operating a decentralized cloud storage network with its own storage nodes. Choose the tool that matches your job: upload a file, run a node, pin content, or store data over the long term.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.1.2
- Last update
- 1 Dec 2022
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/infura/ipfs-upload-client
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the program is free and open source, and its source code is public on GitHub. You do not pay for the tool itself. If you upload through Infura's IPFS service or another API endpoint, that provider may have its own terms and usage limits, so check those separately before uploading large volumes of content.
Windows support is listed as likely, which means the project builds for Windows, but it is not formally confirmed for every release. Look for a Windows build on the GitHub Releases page and test it with a small file before depending on it. The tool is a command-line program, so you run it from Command Prompt or PowerShell.
It can be, as long as you get the file from the project's GitHub repository and verify any published checksum. The tool does not handle wallets or private keys, but uploaded content is publicly reachable by anyone who has its identifier. Keep sensitive files off IPFS, and be cautious of antivirus warnings for unfamiliar command-line tools.
No. The tool sends your files to an API endpoint, such as Infura's IPFS service, so you do not need to run a full node on your computer. If you want to host and serve content from your own machine, a node such as Kubo is a better fit.
Yes. The program can upload both single files and directories, which makes it practical for static websites or document collections. Test with a small folder first to confirm the structure arrives the way you expect before sending a larger set.
The most recent code update was on December 1, 2022, so the project has seen little recent activity in its main code. Check the GitHub repository for newer commits and releases before relying on it. If the project remains inactive, consider a maintained alternative for production work.
Uploading sends content to IPFS through an endpoint, while pinning tells a node or service to keep that content available. A file can be added to IPFS without every provider keeping a copy, so availability is not guaranteed. Pinner CLI focuses on the pinning side of this workflow.
Verdict
Ipfs Upload Client suits developers who want a small, free tool to send files and folders to IPFS through Infura or a compatible endpoint, and who are comfortable with a command line. Its simplicity is the appeal, but the 2022 last update and the v0.1.2 version number mean it is better treated as a lightweight utility than a critical dependency. Test it with throwaway content, watch the repository for activity, and consider a maintained alternative for important workflows.