diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_conf.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_conf.erl
index 61f639271..74f2df27d 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_conf.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_conf.erl
@@ -54,24 +54,26 @@
 enabled() ->
     emqx_config:get([file_transfer, enable], false).
 
--spec storage() -> _Storage.
+-spec storage() -> emqx_config:config().
 storage() ->
     emqx_config:get([file_transfer, storage]).
 
--spec gc_interval(_Storage) -> emqx_maybe:t(milliseconds()).
-gc_interval(Conf = #{type := local}) ->
-    emqx_utils_maps:deep_get([segments, gc, interval], Conf);
-gc_interval(_) ->
-    undefined.
+-spec gc_interval(emqx_ft_storage_fs:storage()) ->
+    emqx_maybe:t(milliseconds()).
+gc_interval(Storage) ->
+    emqx_utils_maps:deep_get([segments, gc, interval], Storage, undefined).
 
--spec segments_ttl(_Storage) -> emqx_maybe:t({_Min :: seconds(), _Max :: seconds()}).
-segments_ttl(Conf = #{type := local}) ->
-    {
-        emqx_utils_maps:deep_get([segments, gc, minimum_segments_ttl], Conf),
-        emqx_utils_maps:deep_get([segments, gc, maximum_segments_ttl], Conf)
-    };
-segments_ttl(_) ->
-    undefined.
+-spec segments_ttl(emqx_ft_storage_fs:storage()) ->
+    emqx_maybe:t({_Min :: seconds(), _Max :: seconds()}).
+segments_ttl(Storage) ->
+    Min = emqx_utils_maps:deep_get([segments, gc, minimum_segments_ttl], Storage, undefined),
+    Max = emqx_utils_maps:deep_get([segments, gc, maximum_segments_ttl], Storage, undefined),
+    case is_integer(Min) andalso is_integer(Max) of
+        true ->
+            {Min, Max};
+        false ->
+            undefined
+    end.
 
 init_timeout() ->
     emqx_config:get([file_transfer, init_timeout]).
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_schema.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_schema.erl
index e2eebbbb8..26eedb1d6 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_schema.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_schema.erl
@@ -93,36 +93,30 @@ fields(file_transfer) ->
             )},
         {storage,
             mk(
-                hoconsc:union(
-                    fun
-                        (all_union_members) ->
-                            [ref(local_storage)];
-                        ({value, #{<<"type">> := <<"local">>}}) ->
-                            [ref(local_storage)];
-                        ({value, #{<<"type">> := _}}) ->
-                            throw(#{field_name => type, expected => "local"});
-                        ({value, _}) ->
-                            [ref(local_storage)]
-                    end
-                ),
+                ref(storage_backend),
                 #{
+                    desc => ?DESC("storage_backend"),
                     required => false,
-                    desc => ?DESC("storage"),
-                    default => #{<<"type">> => <<"local">>}
+                    validator => validator(backend),
+                    default => #{
+                        <<"local">> => #{}
+                    }
+                }
+            )}
+    ];
+fields(storage_backend) ->
+    [
+        {local,
+            mk(
+                ref(local_storage),
+                #{
+                    desc => ?DESC("local_storage"),
+                    required => {false, recursively}
                 }
             )}
     ];
 fields(local_storage) ->
     [
-        {type,
-            mk(
-                local,
-                #{
-                    default => local,
-                    required => false,
-                    desc => ?DESC("local_type")
-                }
-            )},
         {segments,
             mk(
                 ref(local_storage_segments),
@@ -136,29 +130,13 @@ fields(local_storage) ->
             )},
         {exporter,
             mk(
-                hoconsc:union(
-                    fun
-                        (all_union_members) ->
-                            [
-                                ref(local_storage_exporter),
-                                ref(s3_exporter)
-                            ];
-                        ({value, #{<<"type">> := <<"local">>}}) ->
-                            [ref(local_storage_exporter)];
-                        ({value, #{<<"type">> := <<"s3">>}}) ->
-                            [ref(s3_exporter)];
-                        ({value, #{<<"type">> := _}}) ->
-                            throw(#{field_name => type, expected => "local | s3"});
-                        ({value, _}) ->
-                            % NOTE: default
-                            [ref(local_storage_exporter)]
-                    end
-                ),
+                ref(local_storage_exporter_backend),
                 #{
-                    desc => ?DESC("local_storage_exporter"),
-                    required => true,
+                    desc => ?DESC("local_storage_exporter_backend"),
+                    required => false,
+                    validator => validator(backend),
                     default => #{
-                        <<"type">> => <<"local">>
+                        <<"local">> => #{}
                     }
                 }
             )}
@@ -181,17 +159,27 @@ fields(local_storage_segments) ->
                 }
             )}
     ];
-fields(local_storage_exporter) ->
+fields(local_storage_exporter_backend) ->
     [
-        {type,
+        {local,
             mk(
-                local,
+                ref(local_storage_exporter),
                 #{
-                    default => local,
-                    required => false,
-                    desc => ?DESC("local_storage_exporter_type")
+                    desc => ?DESC("local_storage_exporter"),
+                    required => {false, recursively}
                 }
             )},
+        {s3,
+            mk(
+                ref(s3_exporter),
+                #{
+                    desc => ?DESC("s3_exporter"),
+                    required => {false, recursively}
+                }
+            )}
+    ];
+fields(local_storage_exporter) ->
+    [
         {root,
             mk(
                 binary(),
@@ -202,18 +190,7 @@ fields(local_storage_exporter) ->
             )}
     ];
 fields(s3_exporter) ->
-    [
-        {type,
-            mk(
-                s3,
-                #{
-                    default => s3,
-                    required => false,
-                    desc => ?DESC("s3_exporter_type")
-                }
-            )}
-    ] ++
-        emqx_s3_schema:fields(s3);
+    emqx_s3_schema:fields(s3);
 fields(local_storage_segments_gc) ->
     [
         {interval,
@@ -260,6 +237,10 @@ desc(s3_exporter) ->
     "S3 Exporter settings for the File transfer local storage backend";
 desc(local_storage_segments_gc) ->
     "Garbage collection settings for the File transfer local segments storage";
+desc(local_storage_exporter_backend) ->
+    "Exporter for the local file system storage backend";
+desc(storage_backend) ->
+    "Storage backend settings for file transfer";
 desc(_) ->
     undefined.
 
@@ -287,7 +268,16 @@ validator(filename) ->
             byte_size(Bin) =< ?MAX_FILENAME_BYTELEN orelse {error, max_length_exceeded}
         end,
         fun emqx_ft_fs_util:is_filename_safe/1
-    ].
+    ];
+validator(backend) ->
+    fun(Config) ->
+        case maps:keys(Config) of
+            [_Type] ->
+                ok;
+            _Conflicts = [_ | _] ->
+                {error, multiple_conflicting_backends}
+        end
+    end.
 
 converter(checksum) ->
     fun
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage.erl
index 5ec342585..d35229bfc 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage.erl
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 
 -export(
     [
-        child_spec/0,
-
         store_filemeta/2,
         store_segment/2,
         assemble/2,
@@ -30,11 +28,17 @@
         with_storage_type/2,
         with_storage_type/3,
 
+        backend/0,
         on_config_update/2
     ]
 ).
 
--type storage() :: emqx_config:config().
+-type type() :: local.
+-type backend() :: {type(), storage()}.
+-type storage() :: config().
+-type config() :: emqx_config:config().
+
+-export_type([backend/0]).
 
 -export_type([assemble_callback/0]).
 
@@ -100,31 +104,20 @@
 %% API
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--spec child_spec() ->
-    [supervisor:child_spec()].
-child_spec() ->
-    try
-        Mod = mod(),
-        Mod:child_spec(storage())
-    catch
-        error:disabled -> [];
-        error:undef -> []
-    end.
-
 -spec store_filemeta(emqx_ft:transfer(), emqx_ft:filemeta()) ->
     ok | {async, pid()} | {error, term()}.
 store_filemeta(Transfer, FileMeta) ->
-    with_storage(store_filemeta, [Transfer, FileMeta]).
+    dispatch(store_filemeta, [Transfer, FileMeta]).
 
 -spec store_segment(emqx_ft:transfer(), emqx_ft:segment()) ->
     ok | {async, pid()} | {error, term()}.
 store_segment(Transfer, Segment) ->
-    with_storage(store_segment, [Transfer, Segment]).
+    dispatch(store_segment, [Transfer, Segment]).
 
 -spec assemble(emqx_ft:transfer(), emqx_ft:bytes()) ->
     ok | {async, pid()} | {error, term()}.
 assemble(Transfer, Size) ->
-    with_storage(assemble, [Transfer, Size]).
+    dispatch(assemble, [Transfer, Size]).
 
 -spec files() ->
     {ok, page(file_info(), _)} | {error, term()}.
@@ -134,20 +127,14 @@ files() ->
 -spec files(query(Cursor)) ->
     {ok, page(file_info(), Cursor)} | {error, term()}.
 files(Query) ->
-    with_storage(files, [Query]).
+    dispatch(files, [Query]).
 
--spec with_storage(atom() | function()) -> any().
-with_storage(Fun) ->
-    with_storage(Fun, []).
+-spec dispatch(atom(), list(term())) -> any().
+dispatch(Fun, Args) when is_atom(Fun) ->
+    {Type, Storage} = backend(),
+    apply(mod(Type), Fun, [Storage | Args]).
 
--spec with_storage(atom() | function(), list(term())) -> any().
-with_storage(Fun, Args) ->
-    case storage() of
-        Storage = #{} ->
-            apply_storage(Storage, Fun, Args);
-        undefined ->
-            {error, disabled}
-    end.
+%%
 
 -spec with_storage_type(atom(), atom() | function()) -> any().
 with_storage_type(Type, Fun) ->
@@ -155,56 +142,54 @@ with_storage_type(Type, Fun) ->
 
 -spec with_storage_type(atom(), atom() | function(), list(term())) -> any().
 with_storage_type(Type, Fun, Args) ->
-    with_storage(fun(Storage) ->
-        case Storage of
-            #{type := Type} ->
-                apply_storage(Storage, Fun, Args);
-            _ ->
-                {error, {invalid_storage_type, Storage}}
-        end
-    end).
-
-apply_storage(Storage, Fun, Args) when is_atom(Fun) ->
-    apply(mod(Storage), Fun, [Storage | Args]);
-apply_storage(Storage, Fun, Args) when is_function(Fun) ->
-    apply(Fun, [Storage | Args]).
+    case backend() of
+        {Type, Storage} when is_atom(Fun) ->
+            apply(mod(Type), Fun, [Storage | Args]);
+        {Type, Storage} when is_function(Fun) ->
+            apply(Fun, [Storage | Args]);
+        {_, _} = Backend ->
+            {error, {invalid_storage_backend, Backend}}
+    end.
 
 %%
 
--spec on_config_update(_Old :: emqx_maybe:t(storage()), _New :: emqx_maybe:t(storage())) ->
+-spec backend() -> backend().
+backend() ->
+    backend(emqx_ft_conf:storage()).
+
+-spec on_config_update(_Old :: emqx_maybe:t(config()), _New :: emqx_maybe:t(config())) ->
     ok.
-on_config_update(#{type := _} = Storage, #{type := _} = Storage) ->
+on_config_update(ConfigOld, ConfigNew) ->
+    on_backend_update(
+        emqx_maybe:apply(fun backend/1, ConfigOld),
+        emqx_maybe:apply(fun backend/1, ConfigNew)
+    ).
+
+on_backend_update({Type, _} = Backend, {Type, _} = Backend) ->
     ok;
-on_config_update(#{type := Type} = StorageOld, #{type := Type} = StorageNew) ->
-    ok = (mod(StorageNew)):on_config_update(StorageOld, StorageNew);
-on_config_update(StorageOld, StorageNew) when
-    (StorageOld =:= undefined orelse is_map_key(type, StorageOld)) andalso
-        (StorageNew =:= undefined orelse is_map_key(type, StorageNew))
+on_backend_update({Type, StorageOld}, {Type, StorageNew}) ->
+    ok = (mod(Type)):on_config_update(StorageOld, StorageNew);
+on_backend_update(BackendOld, BackendNew) when
+    (BackendOld =:= undefined orelse is_tuple(BackendOld)) andalso
+        (BackendNew =:= undefined orelse is_tuple(BackendNew))
 ->
-    _ = emqx_maybe:apply(fun on_storage_stop/1, StorageOld),
-    _ = emqx_maybe:apply(fun on_storage_start/1, StorageNew),
+    _ = emqx_maybe:apply(fun on_storage_stop/1, BackendOld),
+    _ = emqx_maybe:apply(fun on_storage_start/1, BackendNew),
     ok.
 
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 %% Local API
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-on_storage_start(Storage) ->
-    (mod(Storage)):start(Storage).
+-spec backend(config()) -> backend().
+backend(#{local := Storage}) ->
+    {local, Storage}.
 
-on_storage_stop(Storage) ->
-    (mod(Storage)):stop(Storage).
+on_storage_start({Type, Storage}) ->
+    (mod(Type)):start(Storage).
 
-storage() ->
-    emqx_ft_conf:storage().
+on_storage_stop({Type, Storage}) ->
+    (mod(Type)):stop(Storage).
 
-mod() ->
-    mod(storage()).
-
-mod(Storage) ->
-    case Storage of
-        #{type := local} ->
-            emqx_ft_storage_fs;
-        undefined ->
-            error(disabled)
-    end.
+mod(local) ->
+    emqx_ft_storage_fs.
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter.erl
index e000fe5c6..e25ab158e 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter.erl
@@ -169,15 +169,12 @@ stop({ExporterMod, ExporterOpts}) ->
 
 exporter(Storage) ->
     case maps:get(exporter, Storage) of
-        #{type := local} = Options ->
-            {emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs, without_type(Options)};
-        #{type := s3} = Options ->
-            {emqx_ft_storage_exporter_s3, without_type(Options)}
+        #{local := Options} ->
+            {emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs, Options};
+        #{s3 := Options} ->
+            {emqx_ft_storage_exporter_s3, Options}
     end.
 
-without_type(#{type := _} = Options) ->
-    maps:without([type], Options).
-
 init_checksum(#{checksum := {Algo, _}}) ->
     crypto:hash_init(Algo);
 init_checksum(#{}) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl
index 9109dadbb..9f77c8afb 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl
@@ -257,6 +257,9 @@ read_exportinfo(
     Transfer = dirnames_to_transfer(ClientId, FileId),
     Info = mk_exportinfo(Options, Filename, RelFilepath, Transfer, Fileinfo),
     [Info | Acc];
+read_exportinfo(_Options, {node, _Root = "", {error, enoent}, []}, Acc) ->
+    % NOTE: Root directory does not exist, this is not an error.
+    Acc;
 read_exportinfo(Options, Entry, Acc) ->
     ok = log_invalid_entry(Options, Entry),
     Acc.
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc.erl
index 692a270e3..713649759 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc.erl
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ start_link(Storage) ->
 collect() ->
     gen_server:call(mk_server_ref(global), {collect, erlang:system_time()}, infinity).
 
--spec reset() -> ok.
+-spec reset() -> ok | {error, _}.
 reset() ->
-    reset(emqx_ft_conf:storage()).
+    emqx_ft_storage:with_storage_type(local, fun reset/1).
 
 -spec reset(emqx_ft_storage_fs:storage()) -> ok.
 reset(Storage) ->
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ maybe_report(#gcstats{} = _Stats, _Storage) ->
     ?tp(garbage_collection, #{stats => _Stats, storage => _Storage}).
 
 start_timer(St) ->
-    start_timer(gc_interval(emqx_ft_conf:storage()), St).
+    Interval = emqx_ft_storage:with_storage_type(local, fun gc_interval/1),
+    start_timer(Interval, St).
 
 start_timer(Interval, St = #st{next_gc_timer = undefined}) when ?IS_ENABLED(Interval) ->
     St#st{next_gc_timer = emqx_utils:start_timer(Interval, collect)};
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_SUITE.erl
index 929665ca9..6b675e0c0 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_SUITE.erl
@@ -58,16 +58,16 @@ end_per_suite(_Config) ->
 set_special_configs(Config) ->
     fun
         (emqx_ft) ->
-            Storage = emqx_ft_test_helpers:local_storage(Config),
+            % NOTE
+            % Inhibit local fs GC to simulate it isn't fast enough to collect
+            % complete transfers.
+            Storage = emqx_utils_maps:deep_merge(
+                emqx_ft_test_helpers:local_storage(Config),
+                #{<<"local">> => #{<<"segments">> => #{<<"gc">> => #{<<"interval">> => 0}}}}
+            ),
             emqx_ft_test_helpers:load_config(#{
-                % NOTE
-                % Inhibit local fs GC to simulate it isn't fast enough to collect
-                % complete transfers.
-                enable => true,
-                storage => emqx_utils_maps:deep_merge(
-                    Storage,
-                    #{segments => #{gc => #{interval => 0}}}
-                )
+                <<"enable">> => true,
+                <<"storage">> => Storage
             });
         (_) ->
             ok
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_assembler_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_assembler_SUITE.erl
index 24a4593c2..c1deeb3bc 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_assembler_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_assembler_SUITE.erl
@@ -246,16 +246,19 @@ exporter(Config) ->
     emqx_ft_storage_exporter:exporter(storage(Config)).
 
 storage(Config) ->
-    maps:get(
-        storage,
+    emqx_utils_maps:deep_get(
+        [storage, local],
         emqx_ft_schema:translate(#{
             <<"storage">> => #{
-                <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-                <<"segments">> => #{
-                    <<"root">> => ?config(storage_root, Config)
-                },
-                <<"exporter">> => #{
-                    <<"root">> => ?config(exports_root, Config)
+                <<"local">> => #{
+                    <<"segments">> => #{
+                        <<"root">> => ?config(storage_root, Config)
+                    },
+                    <<"exporter">> => #{
+                        <<"local">> => #{
+                            <<"root">> => ?config(exports_root, Config)
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
             }
         })
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_conf_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_conf_SUITE.erl
index bc9eb5d98..1f53f88af 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_conf_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_conf_SUITE.erl
@@ -34,7 +34,12 @@ end_per_suite(_Config) ->
 init_per_testcase(_Case, Config) ->
     _ = emqx_config:save_schema_mod_and_names(emqx_ft_schema),
     ok = emqx_common_test_helpers:start_apps(
-        [emqx_conf, emqx_ft], emqx_ft_test_helpers:env_handler(Config)
+        [emqx_conf, emqx_ft], fun
+            (emqx_ft) ->
+                emqx_ft_test_helpers:load_config(#{});
+            (_) ->
+                ok
+        end
     ),
     {ok, _} = emqx:update_config([rpc, port_discovery], manual),
     Config.
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ t_update_config(_Config) ->
         {error, #{kind := validation_error}},
         emqx_conf:update(
             [file_transfer],
-            #{<<"storage">> => #{<<"type">> => <<"unknown">>}},
+            #{<<"storage">> => #{<<"unknown">> => #{<<"foo">> => 42}}},
             #{}
         )
     ),
@@ -63,16 +68,18 @@ t_update_config(_Config) ->
             #{
                 <<"enable">> => true,
                 <<"storage">> => #{
-                    <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-                    <<"segments">> => #{
-                        <<"root">> => <<"/tmp/path">>,
-                        <<"gc">> => #{
-                            <<"interval">> => <<"5m">>
+                    <<"local">> => #{
+                        <<"segments">> => #{
+                            <<"root">> => <<"/tmp/path">>,
+                            <<"gc">> => #{
+                                <<"interval">> => <<"5m">>
+                            }
+                        },
+                        <<"exporter">> => #{
+                            <<"local">> => #{
+                                <<"root">> => <<"/tmp/exports">>
+                            }
                         }
-                    },
-                    <<"exporter">> => #{
-                        <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-                        <<"root">> => <<"/tmp/exports">>
                     }
                 }
             },
@@ -81,11 +88,15 @@ t_update_config(_Config) ->
     ),
     ?assertEqual(
         <<"/tmp/path">>,
-        emqx_config:get([file_transfer, storage, segments, root])
+        emqx_config:get([file_transfer, storage, local, segments, root])
     ),
     ?assertEqual(
         5 * 60 * 1000,
-        emqx_ft_conf:gc_interval(emqx_ft_conf:storage())
+        emqx_ft_storage:with_storage_type(local, fun emqx_ft_conf:gc_interval/1)
+    ),
+    ?assertEqual(
+        {5 * 60, 24 * 60 * 60},
+        emqx_ft_storage:with_storage_type(local, fun emqx_ft_conf:segments_ttl/1)
     ).
 
 t_disable_restore_config(Config) ->
@@ -93,13 +104,13 @@ t_disable_restore_config(Config) ->
         {ok, _},
         emqx_conf:update(
             [file_transfer],
-            #{<<"enable">> => true, <<"storage">> => #{<<"type">> => <<"local">>}},
+            #{<<"enable">> => true, <<"storage">> => #{<<"local">> => #{}}},
             #{}
         )
     ),
     ?assertEqual(
         60 * 60 * 1000,
-        emqx_ft_conf:gc_interval(emqx_ft_conf:storage())
+        emqx_ft_storage:with_storage_type(local, fun emqx_ft_conf:gc_interval/1)
     ),
     % Verify that transfers work
     ok = emqx_ft_test_helpers:upload_file(gen_clientid(), <<"f1">>, "f1", <<?MODULE_STRING>>),
@@ -117,7 +128,7 @@ t_disable_restore_config(Config) ->
         emqx_ft_conf:enabled()
     ),
     ?assertMatch(
-        #{type := local, exporter := #{type := local}},
+        #{local := #{exporter := #{local := _}}},
         emqx_ft_conf:storage()
     ),
     ClientId = gen_clientid(),
@@ -147,10 +158,11 @@ t_disable_restore_config(Config) ->
             #{
                 <<"enable">> => true,
                 <<"storage">> => #{
-                    <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-                    <<"segments">> => #{
-                        <<"root">> => Root,
-                        <<"gc">> => #{<<"interval">> => <<"1s">>}
+                    <<"local">> => #{
+                        <<"segments">> => #{
+                            <<"root">> => Root,
+                            <<"gc">> => #{<<"interval">> => <<"1s">>}
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             },
@@ -165,10 +177,7 @@ t_disable_restore_config(Config) ->
                 [
                     #{
                         ?snk_kind := garbage_collection,
-                        storage := #{
-                            type := local,
-                            segments := #{root := Root}
-                        }
+                        storage := #{segments := #{root := Root}}
                     }
                 ],
                 ?of_kind(garbage_collection, Trace)
@@ -188,48 +197,49 @@ t_switch_exporter(_Config) ->
         )
     ),
     ?assertMatch(
-        #{type := local, exporter := #{type := local}},
+        #{local := #{exporter := #{local := _}}},
         emqx_ft_conf:storage()
     ),
     % Verify that switching to a different exporter works
     ?assertMatch(
         {ok, _},
         emqx_conf:update(
-            [file_transfer, storage, exporter],
+            [file_transfer, storage, local, exporter],
             #{
-                <<"type">> => <<"s3">>,
-                <<"bucket">> => <<"emqx">>,
-                <<"host">> => <<"https://localhost">>,
-                <<"port">> => 9000,
-                <<"transport_options">> => #{
-                    <<"ipv6_probe">> => false
+                <<"s3">> => #{
+                    <<"bucket">> => <<"emqx">>,
+                    <<"host">> => <<"https://localhost">>,
+                    <<"port">> => 9000,
+                    <<"transport_options">> => #{
+                        <<"ipv6_probe">> => false
+                    }
                 }
             },
             #{}
         )
     ),
     ?assertMatch(
-        #{type := local, exporter := #{type := s3}},
+        #{local := #{exporter := #{s3 := _}}},
         emqx_ft_conf:storage()
     ),
     % Verify that switching back to local exporter works
     ?assertMatch(
         {ok, _},
         emqx_conf:remove(
-            [file_transfer, storage, exporter],
+            [file_transfer, storage, local, exporter],
             #{}
         )
     ),
     ?assertMatch(
         {ok, _},
         emqx_conf:update(
-            [file_transfer, storage, exporter],
-            #{<<"type">> => <<"local">>},
+            [file_transfer, storage, local, exporter],
+            #{<<"local">> => #{}},
             #{}
         )
     ),
     ?assertMatch(
-        #{type := local, exporter := #{type := local}},
+        #{local := #{exporter := #{local := #{}}}},
         emqx_ft_conf:storage()
     ),
     % Verify that transfers work
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_s3_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_s3_SUITE.erl
index 86de74ee0..e717fe262 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_s3_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_s3_SUITE.erl
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ t_upload_error(Config) ->
     Data = <<"data"/utf8>>,
 
     {ok, _} = emqx_conf:update(
-        [file_transfer, storage, exporter, bucket], <<"invalid-bucket">>, #{}
+        [file_transfer, storage, local, exporter, s3, bucket], <<"invalid-bucket">>, #{}
     ),
 
     ?assertEqual(
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_SUITE.erl
index 2acb57a8e..50925cfb9 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_SUITE.erl
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ client_id(Config) ->
 
 storage(Config) ->
     RawConfig = #{<<"storage">> => emqx_ft_test_helpers:local_storage(Config)},
-    #{storage := Storage} = emqx_ft_schema:translate(RawConfig),
+    #{storage := #{local := Storage}} = emqx_ft_schema:translate(RawConfig),
     Storage.
 
 list_files(Config) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc_SUITE.erl
index 04aedf8f3..a7ffd5675 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_storage_fs_gc_SUITE.erl
@@ -36,19 +36,19 @@ end_per_suite(_Config) ->
     ok.
 
 init_per_testcase(TC, Config) ->
+    SegmentsRoot = emqx_ft_test_helpers:root(Config, node(), [TC, segments]),
+    ExportsRoot = emqx_ft_test_helpers:root(Config, node(), [TC, exports]),
     ok = emqx_common_test_helpers:start_app(
         emqx_ft,
         fun(emqx_ft) ->
             emqx_ft_test_helpers:load_config(#{
                 <<"enable">> => true,
                 <<"storage">> => #{
-                    <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-                    <<"segments">> => #{
-                        <<"root">> => emqx_ft_test_helpers:root(Config, node(), [TC, segments])
-                    },
-                    <<"exporter">> => #{
-                        <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-                        <<"root">> => emqx_ft_test_helpers:root(Config, node(), [TC, exports])
+                    <<"local">> => #{
+                        <<"segments">> => #{<<"root">> => SegmentsRoot},
+                        <<"exporter">> => #{
+                            <<"local">> => #{<<"root">> => ExportsRoot}
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             })
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ t_gc_triggers_manually(_Config) ->
     ).
 
 t_gc_complete_transfers(_Config) ->
-    Storage = emqx_ft_conf:storage(),
+    {local, Storage} = emqx_ft_storage:backend(),
     ok = set_gc_config(minimum_segments_ttl, 0),
     ok = set_gc_config(maximum_segments_ttl, 3),
     ok = set_gc_config(interval, 500),
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ t_gc_complete_transfers(_Config) ->
 t_gc_incomplete_transfers(_Config) ->
     ok = set_gc_config(minimum_segments_ttl, 0),
     ok = set_gc_config(maximum_segments_ttl, 4),
-    Storage = emqx_ft_conf:storage(),
+    {local, Storage} = emqx_ft_storage:backend(),
     Transfers = [
         {
             {<<"client43"/utf8>>, <<"file-🦕"/utf8>>},
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ t_gc_incomplete_transfers(_Config) ->
 t_gc_handling_errors(_Config) ->
     ok = set_gc_config(minimum_segments_ttl, 0),
     ok = set_gc_config(maximum_segments_ttl, 0),
-    Storage = emqx_ft_conf:storage(),
+    {local, Storage} = emqx_ft_storage:backend(),
     Transfer1 = {<<"client1">>, mk_file_id()},
     Transfer2 = {<<"client2">>, mk_file_id()},
     Filemeta = #{name => "oops.pdf"},
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ t_gc_handling_errors(_Config) ->
 %%
 
 set_gc_config(Name, Value) ->
-    emqx_config:put([file_transfer, storage, segments, gc, Name], Value).
+    emqx_config:put([file_transfer, storage, local, segments, gc, Name], Value).
 
 start_transfer(Storage, {Transfer, Meta, Gen}) ->
     ?assertEqual(
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl
index 1482223d8..2eb6d84db 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl
@@ -54,20 +54,22 @@ local_storage(Config) ->
 
 local_storage(Config, Opts) ->
     #{
-        <<"type">> => <<"local">>,
-        <<"segments">> => #{<<"root">> => root(Config, node(), [segments])},
-        <<"exporter">> => exporter(Config, Opts)
+        <<"local">> => #{
+            <<"segments">> => #{<<"root">> => root(Config, node(), [segments])},
+            <<"exporter">> => exporter(Config, Opts)
+        }
     }.
 
 exporter(Config, #{exporter := local}) ->
-    #{<<"type">> => <<"local">>, <<"root">> => root(Config, node(), [exports])};
+    #{<<"local">> => #{<<"root">> => root(Config, node(), [exports])}};
 exporter(_Config, #{exporter := s3, bucket_name := BucketName}) ->
     BaseConfig = emqx_s3_test_helpers:base_raw_config(tcp),
-    BaseConfig#{
-        <<"bucket">> => list_to_binary(BucketName),
-        <<"type">> => <<"s3">>,
-        <<"host">> => ?S3_HOST,
-        <<"port">> => ?S3_PORT
+    #{
+        <<"s3">> => BaseConfig#{
+            <<"bucket">> => list_to_binary(BucketName),
+            <<"host">> => ?S3_HOST,
+            <<"port">> => ?S3_PORT
+        }
     }.
 
 load_config(Config) ->
diff --git a/rel/i18n/emqx_ft_schema.hocon b/rel/i18n/emqx_ft_schema.hocon
index 64b9bd67e..13bbc6970 100644
--- a/rel/i18n/emqx_ft_schema.hocon
+++ b/rel/i18n/emqx_ft_schema.hocon
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ store_segment_timeout.desc:
 """Timeout for storing a file segment.<br/>
 After reaching the timeout, message with the segment will be acked with an error"""
 
-storage.desc:
+storage_backend.desc:
 """Storage settings for file transfer."""
 
-local_type.desc:
-"""Use local file system to store uploaded fragments and temporary data."""
+local_storage.desc:
+"""Local file system backend to store uploaded fragments and temporary data."""
 
 local_storage_segments.desc:
 """Settings for local segments storage, which include uploaded transfer fragments and temporary data."""
@@ -30,15 +30,15 @@ local_storage_segments.desc:
 local_storage_segments_root.desc:
 """File system path to keep uploaded fragments and temporary data."""
 
-local_storage_exporter.desc:
+local_storage_exporter_backend.desc:
 """Exporter for the local file system storage backend.<br/>
 Exporter defines where and how fully transferred and assembled files are stored."""
 
-local_storage_exporter_type.desc:
-"""Exporter type for the exporter to the local file system"""
+local_storage_exporter.desc:
+"""Exporter to the local file system."""
 
-s3_exporter_type.desc:
-"""Exporter type for the exporter to S3"""
+s3_exporter.desc:
+"""Exporter to the S3 API compatible object storage."""
 
 local_storage_exporter_root.desc:
 """File system path to keep uploaded files."""