How to Use SFTP on a Minecraft Server (FileZilla, WinSCP)

SFTP on a Minecraft server lets you copy files between your PC and the server with a program like FileZilla or WinSCP. On TheGameHosting, open your server, go to Settings, copy the address, port and username under SFTP Details, and log in with your panel password. Then drag worlds, plugins or mods across like any folder. This guide shows where each value goes, how to upload a world without corrupting it, and what to do when the login fails.

SFTP means SSH File Transfer Protocol. It is encrypted, unlike old FTP, and it is the protocol game panels use for file access. The panel's Files tab is enough for editing a config file or uploading a few plugins; SFTP is better for large uploads, many files at once, or downloading the whole server folder.

SFTP Minecraft server details you need

The username has two parts: your panel username, a dot, and a short server ID. Each server has its own SFTP username, so if you have two servers, copy it again for the second one. The SFTP port is not 21 (FTP) and is often not 22 either; always use the port your panel shows.

Connect with FileZilla

1. In the panel, open your server, go to Settings and keep the SFTP Details box open.
2. Open FileZilla and choose File → Site Manager → New site.
3. Set Protocol to SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol.
4. Paste the host (without sftp://) in Host and the port in Port.
5. Set Logon Type to Normal, paste the full username and type your panel password.
6. Click Connect. The first time, FileZilla asks you to trust the server's host key; check the box and accept.
7. The server folder appears on the right. Your PC is on the left. Drag files between them.

Connect with WinSCP

1. Open WinSCP. In the Login window, set File protocol to SFTP.
2. Enter the Host name and Port number from SFTP Details.
3. Enter the full User name and your panel Password.
4. Click Save if you want to reuse it, then Login, and accept the host key the first time.

On macOS and Linux you can also use the terminal: sftp -P PORT youruser.1a2b3c4d@your-node-address, then put, get and ls to move files.

Upload a world over SFTP without breaking it

A world folder has thousands of small region files. Copying them while the server is running can save half-old, half-new chunks.

1. Make a copy of the current world in Backups, so you can go back.
2. Stop the server from the panel.
3. On your PC, compress the world folder into a single .zip (one big file uploads much faster than thousands of small ones).
4. Upload the .zip to the server's main folder with SFTP.
5. In Files, right-click the zip and extract it. Remove or rename the old world folder first.
6. Make sure the folder name matches level-name in server.properties (by default world).
7. Start the server and check the console for errors.

Worlds made in singleplayer keep the Nether and End inside the world folder (DIM-1 and DIM1). Paper and Spigot keep them as separate folders, world_nether and world_the_end. When you move a world from a Paper server, upload those two folders as well, or the Nether and End will be generated again.

Common SFTP errors and fixes

1. "Connection refused" or timeout. Wrong port, or FileZilla is using FTP. Check that the protocol is SFTP and the port matches the panel.
2. "Authentication failed". The username is missing the dot and server ID, or the password is not your panel password. If you changed your panel password recently, use the new one.
3. "Permission denied" on a file. You may be writing outside the server folder, or the file is in use. Stop the server and try again.
4. Upload is very slow. Many small files. Zip them, upload one file, extract in Files.
5. Edited files are back to the old version. The server overwrote them on shutdown (common with configs plugins rewrite). Stop the server, edit, then start.
6. Can't find your backups over SFTP. Panel backups are stored apart from the server files. Download them from the Backups tab instead.

Do you even need SFTP?

For most tasks, no. In Files you can create, edit, rename, compress and extract files in your browser. Use it for server.properties, a single plugin jar or ops.json. Plugins and mods can also be installed from the Plugins and Mods tabs without moving any file. Keep SFTP for worlds, modpacks you build yourself, and full downloads. If you want to change ports or other settings, see how to change Minecraft server port and how to install mods on a Minecraft server.

Full file access with TheGameHosting

Every TheGameHosting plan includes full SFTP access, a browser file manager and one-click backups, on NVMe storage that makes big uploads and world saves fast. The server runs 24/7 in Dallas or Amsterdam on AMD 9950X or 7950X3D CPUs, with DDoS protection included and support in English and Spanish if a connection will not work.

Plans start at 2 GB for $1.90 USD per month, ready about 60 seconds after payment. See all sizes on Pricing or read about our Minecraft server hosting.

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