The scp: …: not a regular file error means the source path points to something scp cannot copy as a single ordinary file. Most often, that path is a directory: add -r to copy its contents, or change the source path to the specific file you want. If you already used -r, inspect the exact source path because other non-regular filesystem entries can trigger the message too.
What “not a regular file” means
A regular file is a typical data file, such as a text document, image, or executable. A directory is a different kind of filesystem object, as are device files and named pipes. By default, scp does not descend into a directory; recursive mode lets it traverse directories. OpenSSH’s source code handles directories specially when recursion is enabled and reports other non-regular entries through the same error path. OpenSSH scp source code
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So the error is about the source object’s type, not necessarily a permissions problem. A directory is the leading explanation, but it is not the only possible one.
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| Your goal | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Copy a remote directory to the current local directory | scp -r user@server:/remote/project . |
Copies the project directory and its contents recursively. |
| Copy a local directory to a remote destination | scp -r ./project user@server:/remote/path/ |
Copies the local project directory recursively. |
| Copy one file from a remote directory | scp user@server:/remote/project/file.txt . |
Copies only the named file; recursion is not needed. |
In each command, replace the example username, server, and paths with your own. The source comes first and the destination second. The two directory examples use -r because the source is a directory; the single-file example names the file itself. OpenBSD scp manual
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Choose the destination layout deliberately
Copying ./project transfers the directory as a folder. By contrast, a shell-expanded pattern such as ./project/* usually passes the matching entries as sources, placing their contents in the destination rather than copying the enclosing folder. Such a pattern can match nested directories, which still need recursive handling, and common shells do not include hidden files in *. Use the directory path when you want the folder as a unit; use a narrower pattern only when its matches and resulting layout are what you intend. OpenBSD scp manual
Check what the exact source path points to
Inspect the same path you gave scp, not merely the path you intended to type:
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ls -ld /path/to/thingFor a remote path, run:
ssh user@server 'ls -ld /remote/path'In a typical Unix listing, a first character of d indicates a directory and - indicates a regular file. If the source is a directory and you want the whole tree, use recursive mode. If it is a file, make sure the command names that file rather than its containing directory.
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If the error persists
- Confirm the path and spelling. Check every path component and verify that the endpoint exists and is the object you intend to copy.
- Check source and destination order. scp takes the source first and the destination second. Make sure the path you are inspecting is actually the source.
- Review wildcard matches. A pattern may select directories as well as files. Recurse if you intend to copy matched directories, or narrow the pattern. Remember that common
*patterns omit hidden entries. - Inspect non-regular entries. If adding
-ris not appropriate or does not resolve the message, check whether the source is a device, named pipe, or another special filesystem entry. - Treat a different next error separately. A subsequent
Permission deniedor authentication error indicates a distinct access or connection problem, not the same file-type diagnosis.
Does the scp protocol version change the fix?
OpenSSH 9.0 and later use SFTP for scp transfers by default; -O selects the legacy SCP protocol for compatibility. The change matters most for details such as wildcard and quoting behavior. It does not alter the basic directory diagnosis: use recursive mode for a directory tree, or specify an individual file. If protocol behavior is relevant to a particular transfer, check the installed client version and server compatibility rather than assuming every environment behaves identically. OpenBSD scp manual
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