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 the SFTP button in the File Manager, then connect.

Find your SFTP details

1. In the dashboard, select Open next to your server.
2. In the left rail, open the File Manager tab.
3. At the right of its toolbar, press SFTP. On a phone it shows only a key-folder icon. The SFTP details panel opens.

The quickest way in is Open in SFTP app. It opens your own SFTP app (WinSCP, FileZilla, Cyberduck or Transmit) with the host, port and username already filled in. You type the password yourself, because it is never in the link. If you'd rather copy the values, they are in the same panel.

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 panel'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 panel'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 panel'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 SFTP button in the File Manager toolbar is where the login details are.

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, download your files from it first, then upload them here the same way.

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. Reset password gives the server its own SFTP login with a new password, and that login opens this server only.

1. Open the File Manager, press SFTP, then select Reset password in the SFTP details panel.
2. Confirm when it asks.
3. Copy the new username and password from the panel into your SFTP app.

If it won't connect

• Authentication failed (FileZilla) or Access denied (WinSCP) - copy the username and the password again with the panel's buttons. After a reset, 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 panel (an empty port makes your app try its own default), and check the protocol is SFTP and the host matches the panel. Some work and school networks block unusual ports, so try a phone hotspot.
• The panel says "SFTP isn't available for this server yet." - the server is still being set up. Reload the File Manager in a few minutes.
• The panel says "Could not load SFTP details." - reload the page. If it stays, send support the server's name.
• The Password field says "Only the server owner can see 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.