Connect over SFTP with FileZilla or WinSCP

SFTP connects a desktop app such as FileZilla or WinSCP straight to your server's files, so you can drag whole folders and large files across. You copy four login values from one card in Settings, then connect.

Find your SFTP details

1. In the dashboard, select the wrench button (Server settings) next to your server's Open button.
2. Scroll down to Connections and find the SFTP connection card.

Inside the panel, Settings is under More in the left rail.

Copy each value with its button, because one missed character fails the login.

Connect with FileZilla

1. Open FileZilla (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. Go to File > Site Manager and select New site.
3. Set Protocol to SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol.
4. Paste the card's Host and Port into the matching fields.
5. Set Logon Type to Normal.
6. Paste the Username into User and the Password into Password.
7. Select Connect. The first time, FileZilla warns that the host key is unknown: tick Always trust this host, add this key to the cache and select OK.

Your computer shows on the left and the server on the right, starting in the same main folder the File Manager opens at. Drag files across to upload them.

Connect with WinSCP

1. Open WinSCP (Windows only). The Login window opens with New Site selected.
2. Set File protocol to SFTP.
3. Paste the card's Host into Host name and its Port into Port number.
4. Paste the Username into User name and the Password into Password.
5. Select Save to keep the site for next time.
6. Select Login. The first time, WinSCP asks whether to trust the server's host key: select Accept.

WinSCP then shows your computer on the left and the server's files on the right.

Use the command line

macOS, Linux and recent versions of Windows include sftp. Swap in the card's values (the port flag is a capital -P):

sftp -P <port> <username>@<host>

Type yes if it asks about the host's fingerprint, then paste the password. Type help to list the file commands.

When to use SFTP instead of the File Manager

The File Manager in your browser is quicker for config edits (How to manage your server files). Use SFTP for whole world or mods folders and for files over 100 MB, where browser uploads stop. The note under the File Manager list says so, and its SFTP link opens Settings with the step-by-step guide already open.

Before you replace a world, stop the server and take a backup (How to create and restore backups). If you're moving from another host, the Migrate tab copies your files straight from its SFTP or FTP login (Move your server from another host).

Reset your SFTP password

The SFTP password is separate from your website login, and only the server owner can see it. You can't choose it, but you can replace it if you've shared it or think someone else has seen it. If the card says "No password on file yet", rotating creates your first one.

1. Select Rotate password on the SFTP connection card.
2. Confirm with Rotate password in the dialog.
3. Copy the new password from the card into your SFTP app.

If it won't connect

• Authentication failed (FileZilla) or Access denied (WinSCP) - copy the username, including the part after the dot, and the password again with the card's buttons. After a rotation, update every saved site. If the details are right, check the server isn't in holiday mode or suspended. Resume from holiday is under Billing.
• Connection refused or timed out - paste the Port from the card (an empty port makes your app try its own default), and check the protocol is SFTP and the host matches the card. Some work and school networks block unusual ports, so try a phone hotspot.
• The card says "SFTP isn't available for this server yet." - the server is still being set up. Reload Settings in a few minutes.
• The card says "Could not load SFTP details." - reload the page. If it stays, send support the server's name.
• The card says "Only the server owner can view or rotate it." - you're signed in as a team member. Use the browser File Manager instead, with the File manager permission from the owner (Give friends access to your server panel).
• start.sh or another file the panel manages won't download, upload or delete - those files are locked for every connection, SFTP included.

If none of these match, send support the exact error, the app you used, the server's name and the time you tried, with your time zone.