SFTP is how you put maps, plugins, mods and configs on your server — and how you download backups. Watch the short video, then follow the steps for a game server or a VPS.
Quick answer
Install FileZilla Client, then connect with SFTP. On a game server, use the address, port (2022) and username from your game panel under Settings › SFTP Details, with your game panel password. On a VPS or dedicated server, use the server IP, port 22, the user root and your root password. Drag files from the left (your PC) to the right (the server) to upload them, then restart the server.
SFTP or FTP?
SFTP runs over SSH, so your login and your files are encrypted. Plain FTP sends everything in clear text. Your game server panel and a fresh VPS both speak SFTP — there is no FTP server on port 21 unless you install one yourself.
Step 1: install FileZilla Client
Download FileZilla Client from the official FileZilla website — the client, not FileZilla Server — and install it with the default options. It is free. WinSCP works too, with the same details.
Step 2: find your SFTP details
Game server — the details are in your game panel:
- In the client area, open your game server and click Go to panel.
- Open Settings. Under SFTP Details you see the server address (it ends in
:2022) and your username. - The password is the one you use to log in to the game panel.
VPS or dedicated server — host: your server IP, port: 22, username: root, password: your root password (from your welcome email or the client area). These are the same details you use for SSH.
Step 3: connect with Quickconnect
- In FileZilla, fill in the Quickconnect bar at the top: Host (with
sftp://in front), Username, Password and Port. - Click Quickconnect.
- The first time, FileZilla shows Unknown host key. Tick "Always trust this host, add this key to the cache" and click OK.
Without it, FileZilla may try plain FTP — especially on port 2022 — and the connection fails. The right port matters just as much: 2022 for game servers, 22 for a VPS.
Step 4: upload and download
The left side is your PC, the right side is your server. Drag files from left to right to upload, and from right to left to download. For a big folder like a world or a modpack, zip it first, upload the single zip, then extract it with the file manager in your game panel — one file uploads much faster than thousands of small ones.
After uploading
- Restart the server so new plugins, mods and configs load.
- Stop the server before replacing files it is using, such as the server jar or a world.
- Keep a backup of anything you overwrite.
Common SFTP errors
- Connection timed out or refused — the host or the port is wrong. Game servers use 2022, a VPS uses 22.
- Authentication failed — copy the username exactly as the panel shows it, and use your game panel password (game server) or root password (VPS).
- Permission denied while uploading — the file is in use or protected. Stop the server and try again.