SFTP lets you upload and download files over SSH. On a VPS, it uses the same login details as normal SSH: the VPS IP address, SSH username, SSH password or key, and SSH port.
The default SSH/SFTP port is 22 unless you changed it. If SSH does not work, SFTP will not work either.
- Install an SFTP client such as FileZilla or WinSCP on your own computer.
- Create a connection using protocol
SFTP, your VPS public IP, port22, and your Linux SSH username. - Connect to the VPS. If the client asks whether to trust the host key, accept it only if the IP address is correct.
- Upload files into the folder used by the software you are running. Do not upload files randomly into
/unless a guide specifically tells you to.
| Path | Common use |
|---|---|
/home | User folders, game files, and service accounts. |
/opt | Manually installed software. |
/srv | Hosted services, depending on your setup. |
/var/log | Logs. Download from here when troubleshooting. |
For the full FileZilla walkthrough, use How to connect to SFTP using FileZilla.
Common SFTP mistakes
- Using FTP instead of SFTP. A VPS normally uses SFTP over SSH.
- Uploading files to the wrong user folder, then starting the application from another folder.
- Uploading archives but forgetting to extract them on the VPS.
- Changing ownership or permissions in a way that prevents the service from reading the files.
If a file uploads but the application cannot see it, check the exact folder path in the application's config or startup command.
