AFP provides the connection between client computers and the AppleShare server. Macintosh clients connect to the server using the AppleShare Client software, by selecting the file server from a list of available servers in the Chooser.

If both the client and the server have AFP over TCP enabled, the client can establish an IP connection instead of an AppleTalk connection for increased performance and network efficiency. To establish a TCP connection, the user enters the AppleShare server's IP address (by clicking the Server IP Address button in the Chooser) instead of selecting the name.