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To connect to a server over SFTP in FileZilla, create a site profile, choose SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol, enter the server host, SFTP port, username and authentication method, then verify the server’s host-key fingerprint before accepting the first connection. SFTP normally uses port 22, but your provider may require another port.
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You need four details from the server administrator or hosting provider: the hostname or IP address, the SFTP port, the SFTP username and either a password or an authorized SSH private key. The steps below cover a one-time connection, a reusable Site Manager profile, key-based login, host-key checks, file transfers and the most common failures.
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SFTP means SSH File Transfer Protocol. In FileZilla it is a distinct protocol choice; selecting ordinary FTP or FTP over TLS will not connect to an SFTP service. The server must have an SFTP-capable account, and that account may use a password, an SSH key, or a policy that permits only one of those methods.
- Host: the server’s DNS name (for example, a hostname supplied by your provider) or its IP address.
- Port: normally 22. Use a different number when the administrator or provider specifies a custom SFTP port.
- Username: the exact SFTP account name. It may differ from your hosting-panel, control-panel or web-application login.
- Authentication: a password, or the private half of an SSH key pair whose public key is already authorized on the server.
Do not guess any of these values. One incorrect character in a hostname, username or port can stop FileZilla before it makes a useful login attempt.
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Choose Quickconnect or Site Manager
| Method | Best for | What you enter | What happens to the settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quickconnect | A one-off connection or a quick test | Host, username, password and port in the top bar | Convenient for short-term use; it is not the best place to maintain a reusable profile |
| Site Manager | Regular access, multiple servers or key authentication | A saved site profile with protocol, host, port, logon type, username and credentials/key path | Settings can be reopened and edited instead of retyped |
Use Site Manager when you connect more than once. It also exposes the Key file logon type needed for private-key authentication. Quickconnect is still useful for a temporary test when you have password credentials and do not want to save a profile.
Gather the connection details first
Ask the administrator or hosting provider for the following information, preferably in one message so that you can copy it exactly:
- Server hostname or IP address.
- SFTP port. Treat 22 as the default only when no custom port is supplied.
- SFTP username.
- Whether the account accepts a password, an SSH key, or both.
- If keys are required, the private-key format accepted by the account and the expected host-key fingerprint for first-connection verification.
- The intended remote directory or home path if the account is restricted to a particular folder.
Keep private keys private. A server administrator should receive the public key, not your private-key file or its passphrase. If you received only a .pub file, that is the public key and cannot be selected as the client’s private key.
Connect with FileZilla Site Manager
- Open Site Manager. Start FileZilla and choose File > Site Manager.
- Create a profile. Select New Site in the Site Manager dialog. Give the entry a recognizable name if you will manage more than one server.
- Select the protocol. On the General tab, set Protocol to SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol. This is the setting that tells FileZilla to use SSH-based file transfer rather than FTP.
- Enter the host. Type the supplied hostname or IP address in Host. Do not add an extra protocol prefix such as
ftp://when the Protocol field already specifies SFTP. - Set the port. Enter the supplied SFTP port in Port. If the provider gave no custom port, use 22. FileZilla’s private-key guidance also allows the Port field to be left blank, in which case the default 22 is used; entering 22 explicitly can make the profile easier to audit.
- Choose the logon type. Select the option that matches the account. Password-based accounts generally use a normal password prompt or an ask-for-password option. Key-based accounts use Key file.
- Fill in the credentials. Enter the exact SFTP username. For password authentication, enter the password when the selected logon type requests it. For key authentication, browse to the private key file. Do not select its matching
.pubfile. - Start the connection. Click Connect. FileZilla will resolve the host, contact the selected port and then perform the chosen authentication exchange.
FileZilla Pro’s documentation describes the key workflow this way: “To connect to an SFTP server with a private key in FileZilla, open Site Manager, set the Logon Type to ‘Key file,’ and browse to your private key.” The matching public key must already be authorized on the server; FileZilla supplies the client-side selection, not the server-side authorization.
Use password authentication correctly
When a password is appropriate
Password login works only when the SFTP account permits password authentication. Some administrators disable passwords and require keys, even when a hosting panel still displays a password field. A hosting-panel password may also belong to a different account than the SFTP user.
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Normal versus ask-for-password logon types
Use the normal password option when the profile can store or retain the credential according to your security policy. Use an ask-for-password option when you want FileZilla to request the password at connection time instead of keeping it in the saved profile. The exact available labels can vary by FileZilla edition and version, so choose the password-based option presented in your installed Site Manager.
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Handling a rejected password
If the host and port are correct but the password is rejected, verify the username character by character and confirm that the account is actually enabled for password login. Ask the administrator whether the account requires an SSH key or whether the password was changed, expired or belongs to another service.
Use an SSH private key
What must exist on the server
SSH authentication uses a key pair. You keep the private key on your computer and the server administrator installs the corresponding public key in the SFTP account’s authorized-key configuration. Selecting a private key in FileZilla cannot compensate for a missing or mismatched public key on the server.
Configure the key in Site Manager
- Open File > Site Manager and select the saved site, or create a new site.
- Confirm Protocol is SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol.
- Set Logon Type to Key file.
- Enter the SFTP username.
- Use the key-file browse control to select the private key stored on your computer.
- Leave the port blank for FileZilla’s default 22 or enter the custom port supplied by the provider.
- Click Connect. If the key is protected by a passphrase, enter that passphrase when FileZilla asks for it.
Key formats and conversion prompts
FileZilla documentation discusses common OpenSSH, PPK and PEM situations. Your installed version may accept a format directly or offer to convert it. Preserve the original private key before accepting a conversion, and follow the format requirement given by the server administrator. Never overwrite the only copy of a working key while experimenting with a conversion.
Common key-file mistakes
- Selecting
id_rsa.pub, another.pubfile or a certificate instead of the private key. - Using a private key that does not correspond to the public key installed for this account.
- Entering the wrong SFTP username even though the key itself is valid.
- Forgetting the passphrase for an encrypted private key.
- Choosing a format unsupported by the installed FileZilla version or by the server’s authentication setup.
Verify the server host key on the first connection
On a first SFTP connection, FileZilla may report that the server’s host key is unknown and display a fingerprint. This is an identity check: it lets you confirm that the server you reached is the server you intended to reach.
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- Obtain the expected host-key fingerprint from the provider or administrator through a trusted channel. Do not rely on a value copied from an unverified error message or an unknown third party.
- Compare the displayed fingerprint with the trusted value, character by character. Confirm that the algorithm and fingerprint representation are the ones the administrator supplied.
- Accept and cache the key only after the comparison succeeds.
- If the fingerprint is different, stop and investigate. A changed key can have an innocent explanation, such as a rebuilt server, but it can also indicate that you reached a different machine or that traffic is being intercepted.
Do not automatically accept an unexpected host-key change merely to make the warning disappear. Ask the administrator to explain the change and provide the new trusted fingerprint.
Understand the FileZilla window after login
A successful connection normally displays two browsing areas:
- Local site: files and folders on your computer.
- Remote site: files and folders exposed by the SFTP account on the server.
Navigate to the required local and remote folders, then drag files between the panes or use the transfer commands. FileZilla places active and pending work in its transfer queue. Watch the queue for successful, failed or skipped items instead of assuming that a drag operation completed.
The account may be restricted to a home directory or chroot path. The remote pane can therefore show a path that is not the server’s filesystem root, and an account may not be allowed to browse above that location. Those restrictions are controlled server-side.
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After a successful connection, close or return to Site Manager and keep the site profile with a clear name. A saved profile should record the protocol, host, port, username, logon type and private-key path, while your password-storage choice should match your security policy.
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- Update the profile when the provider changes the hostname or custom port.
- Keep the private key in a protected location and back it up securely according to your organization’s policy.
- If the key file moves, edit the profile’s key-file path rather than creating a second profile with stale settings.
- When an administrator rotates the server host key, verify the new fingerprint before accepting and caching it.
Troubleshoot a failed SFTP connection
FileZilla makes no meaningful connection attempt
Recheck the protocol, host and port first. Make sure the Protocol field still says SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol, remove accidental spaces from the hostname and confirm that the port is numeric. WordPress.org’s Advanced Administration Handbook notes that one incorrect character can prevent a connection attempt. If no custom port was supplied, test the default 22 rather than inventing another value.
“Connection refused,” timeout or unreachable host
These symptoms usually point to a network path, host or port problem rather than a bad password. Confirm the server address and custom port with the provider, and check whether the account is limited to particular source IP addresses or requires a VPN or firewall rule. Do not switch to FTP merely because SFTP is not answering; the server may expose only the specified SSH/SFTP service.
“Incorrect login” or “user does not exist”
Verify the exact SFTP username and make sure you are not using a control-panel, database or web-application login by mistake. Ask the administrator to confirm that the account exists, is enabled and is allowed to use SFTP on this host.
Password rejected even though the details look right
Confirm whether password authentication is disabled for the account. If keys are required, switch the Site Manager logon type to Key file, select the correct private key and have the administrator verify that its matching public key is installed for the same username. A correct password cannot work when the server’s policy permits keys only.
Private-key error or authentication fails immediately
- Confirm that the selected file is the private key, not the
.pubcompanion. - Check that the private key belongs to the public key authorized on the server.
- Enter the key’s passphrase if prompted.
- Check whether the installed FileZilla version supports the key’s OpenSSH, PPK or PEM format, and preserve the original before any conversion.
- Verify the username and custom port; a valid key presented to the wrong account or service will still fail.
Login succeeds but the remote directory is empty
An empty view does not necessarily mean that the server has no files. The account may start in a restricted home or chroot directory, or it may not have permission to list the directory you expected. Ask the administrator to verify the account’s remote-directory assignment, chroot/home path and read permissions.
“Permission denied” while uploading, downloading or deleting
Successful authentication proves only that the account can log in. File and directory permissions are separate. Confirm that the target directory grants the account the required read, write or delete rights, and check whether the server uses ownership, group membership or a read-only deployment directory.
The host key is unknown or has changed
For an unknown key, obtain the expected fingerprint and compare it before accepting. For a changed key, do not overwrite the cached key without an explanation from the administrator. A server rebuild or migration may be legitimate, but the new fingerprint must still come through a trusted channel.
A custom port was supplied
Replace 22 with the exact number provided by the administrator in the Site Manager Port field. SFTP does not require every server to listen on 22; the provider’s configuration takes precedence. If the custom port fails, confirm that you were given the SFTP/SSH port rather than an FTP or web-management port.
A quick pre-connection and post-connection checklist
Before clicking Connect
- Protocol is SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol.
- Host is copied exactly from the provider or administrator.
- Port is 22 only when no custom port was supplied.
- Username is the SFTP account name.
- Logon type matches the account’s password or key policy.
- For key login, the selected file is the private key and the public key is authorized server-side.
- You have a trusted host-key fingerprint for the first connection.
After connecting
- Confirm that the remote path is the expected account directory.
- Transfer a small, non-critical file first if you are testing permissions.
- Check the transfer queue for the final status.
- Save the working site profile and record any custom port or key path securely.
Which setup should you use?
| Situation | Recommended FileZilla setup | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| One temporary password-based session | Quickconnect with SFTP, the supplied host, port and username | Fastest way to test access without maintaining a profile |
| Regular access to one server | Site Manager profile with SFTP and the provider’s port | Prevents repeated entry errors and preserves the working configuration |
| Server requires SSH keys | Site Manager, Logon Type: Key file, private key selected | Matches the server’s authentication policy |
| Provider uses a nonstandard SSH port | Site Manager or Quickconnect with that exact custom port | Port 22 will not reach a service listening elsewhere |
| First connection to an unfamiliar server | Any method, but pause for host-key fingerprint verification | Confirms server identity before the key is cached |
Bottom line
Use FileZilla’s Site Manager, select SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol, enter the exact host, port and username supplied for the account, then choose the matching password or private-key method. Verify the host-key fingerprint before accepting the first connection, save the working profile for repeat access and treat authentication, directory permissions and custom ports as separate checks when troubleshooting.
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