WinSCP

Freeware SFTP and SCP client for Windows using SSH, which enables you to quickly perform data transfers and manage all your files.

• WinSCP
• License :GPL
• OS :Windows All
• Publisher :Martin Prikryl

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WinSCP is a free, open-source SFTP, FTP, and SCP client for Windows that lets you securely transfer files between your local computer and a remote server.

It’s a popular tool for web developers, sysadmins, and anyone managing remote files on servers via SSH.

🔐 What WinSCP Is Used For

• Securely transferring files (via SFTP, SCP, or FTP)
• Connecting to remote servers (Linux, cloud VPS, etc.)
• Editing files directly on a remote server
• Automating file transfers with scripting or batch jobs
• Synchronizing local and remote directories
• Managing file permissions remotely

✅ How to Use WinSCP (Step-by-Step)

1. Download & Install

• Official site: https://winscp.net
• Choose Installer or Portable version
• During setup, choose Commander interface (easiest for beginners)

2. Connect to a Remote Server

When you launch WinSCP:

🔑 Fill in these fields:

✅ For SSH Key Login:

• Go to Advanced > SSH > Authentication
• Set your private key file (e.g., .ppk from PuTTYgen)

Click Login to connect.

3. Understand the Interface

By default, WinSCP shows two panels:

You can:

• Drag & drop files between them
• Right-click files to rename, delete, or change permissions
• Double-click files to open in your editor or download

4. Transfer Files

• Drag files between panels to upload or download
• You can also use:
  • F5 – Copy
  • F6 – Move
  • F8 – Delete

5. Edit Remote Files

• Double-click a remote file (like .html, .php, .conf)
• It opens in your default editor
• On save, WinSCP uploads the changes back to the server automatically

✅ You can change editor under:
Preferences > Editors

6. Set File Permissions

• Right-click a file > Properties
• You can set UNIX permissions (like 755, 644, etc.)
• Also supports chmod recursive for folders

7. Synchronize Directories

To keep two folders in sync:

1. Go to Commands > Synchronize
2. Choose:
   • Local ↔ Remote
   • Direction (Both, Remote → Local, or Local → Remote)
   • Whether to delete files not in the source
3. Click OK

8. Automate with Scripts or Command Line

You can run automated transfers like:

winscp.com /script=myscript.txt

Example myscript.txt:

open sftp://user:[email protected]/
cd /var/www/html
put index.html
exit

Great for scheduled backups, CI/CD, or scripted deployments.

9. Save Sessions for Quick Access

• Click “Save” on the login screen
• You can name the session and optionally save the password
• Load sessions from the login manager later

🔧 Common Use Cases

🔐 Security Tips

• Always use SFTP (not FTP) if possible
• Use SSH keys instead of passwords
• Don’t save passwords in sessions on shared computers
• Enable two-factor authentication on your server if supported