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Uploading/Downloading files using SFTP

Uploading/Downloading files using SFTP​

Grab WinSCP and install it from here.

Once it's installed, configure it to connect to the server:

  1. First, click on “Session” on the left-hand side to bring up the Session options.

    WinSCP Session

  2. Fill in the “Hostname” with your server hostname or IP address.

  3. Ensure the “Port number” is set to 22.

  4. Enter “Username” as root.

  5. Leave the “Password” field blank if you're using SSH keys (recommended).

  6. Select “SFTP” in the “Protocol” section.

  7. Finally, click “Save” to save this configuration. Click on “Session -> Saved Sessions”, select your saved session, and click on “Login”.

    WinSCP Login

The first time you log in, you may see this message:

WinSCP Warning

You can ignore this message and click Yes to continue.

Once logged in, you will be taken to your home directory of the user with which you have logged in, and you’ll see this in the right-hand panel of WinSCP.

When you log in to WinSCP, you will see a window with information about both the local and remote computers. You can browse directories and reach the document root of your website (usually /home/username/public_html/).

The left-side panel will show the files and directories on your local computer, while the right-side panel will show the files and directories on the remote server. To navigate directories, double-click a directory name. To move up a level in the directory structure, double-click the parent directory icon at the top.

WinSCP File Browser

Note:
The parent directory icon is a folder containing an up arrow, followed by two dots.

From Remote server to local computer​

File transfer from the Remote server to the local computer (download):​

Left side panel: Open a directory folder or location on your local computer where you wish to download the file.

Right side panel: Click once on the file or directory folder you wish to download.

There are 3 methods to download files from the remote server to your local computer:

  1. Drag the remote folder or file to the left-side panel (local computer).
  2. Select the file or directory and press the F5 function key.
  3. Right-click the file or folder and select Copy from the menu.

From local computer to Remote server​

File transfer from the local computer to the Remote server (upload):​

Right side panel: Open a directory folder or location on the remote server where you wish to upload the file.

Left side panel: Click once on the file or directory folder you wish to upload.

Note:
Before uploading files, it is recommended to remove spaces, extensions, and capitalization from filenames.

The same 3 methods that are used for downloading files from the remote server to the local computer can be used to upload files or folders from your local computer to the remote server.