Linux Networking

How to Use SFTP Client in Linux (10+ Essential SFTP Commands)

Complete step-by-step guide to using the Linux SFTP client. Learn how to connect, upload, download, manage files and directories, check remote paths, and use 10+ essential SFTP commands securely.

In this guide, you will learn how to use the SFTP client in Linux for secure file transfers and remote file management.

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) runs over SSH and encrypts data, usernames, and passwords in transit. Unlike legacy FTP, it is designed for secure file movement over untrusted networks.

By the end, you will know how to:

  • Connect to an SFTP server
  • Navigate remote and local directories
  • Upload and download single or multiple files
  • Create, rename, and remove files/directories
  • Check remote filesystem usage
  • Use helpful built-in SFTP command help

Related Content

Prerequisites

To follow along, make sure you have:

  • An SFTP server to connect to
  • A valid username and password (or SSH private key)
  • Network access to the SFTP host and SSH port (usually 22)
  • SFTP client installed (available by default on most Linux distributions)

1. Connect to an SFTP Server

Use this format:

1

sftp user@host

Example:

1

sftp [email protected]

Example output:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

sftp [email protected]

The authenticity of host '192.168.10.10 (192.168.10.10)' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:99KvuL95zO2CQbC8X0Re/Q+cYrJgqQgzpf1leemnjmY.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])? yes
Warning: Permanently added '192.168.10.10' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
[email protected]'s password:
Connected to 192.168.10.10.
sftp>

After connection, you are in the interactive SFTP shell (sftp>). Your remote start directory depends on server configuration (for example user home or chroot path).

You can also connect using a custom port:

1

sftp -P 2222 [email protected]

2. Check SFTP Version

Inside the SFTP prompt:

1
2
3
4

sftp> version

SFTP protocol version 3
sftp>

3. Show Remote Working Directory (pwd)

Use pwd to print your current remote directory:

1
2
3
4

sftp> pwd

Remote working directory: /sftpuser1
sftp>

4. Show Local Working Directory (lpwd)

Use lpwd to print your current local directory:

1
2
3
4

sftp> lpwd

Local working directory: /home/ubuntu
sftp>

Change remote directories with cd:

1
2
3

sftp> cd sftpuser1

sftp>

You can also change local directories with lcd:

1
2
3

sftp> lcd /home/ubuntu/downloads
sftp> lpwd
Local working directory: /home/ubuntu/downloads

5. Upload Files to SFTP Server (put, mput)

Upload a file using one-line mode

1

sftp {user}@{host}:{remote-path} <<< $'put {local-path}'

Example:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

sftp [email protected]:/sftpuser1/ <<< $'put ./citizix.txt'
[email protected]'s password:
Connected to 127.0.0.1.
Changing to: /sftpuser1/
sftp> put ./citizix.txt
Uploading ./citizix.txt to /sftpuser1/citizix.txt
./citizix.txt

Upload from interactive SFTP shell

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12

sftp>
sftp> pwd
Remote working directory: /sftpuser1/datadir
sftp> ls
sftp> lls
citizix.txt  snap  tmp
sftp> put citizix.txt
Uploading citizix.txt to /sftpuser1/datadir/citizix.txt
citizix.txt                                                            100%   32    25.8KB/s   00:00
sftp> ls
citizix.txt
sftp>

Upload multiple files with mput:

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13

sftp>
sftp> pwd
Remote working directory: /sftpuser1/data
sftp> ls
sftp> lls
data1  data2  data3
sftp> mput data[23]
Uploading data2 to /sftpuser1/data/data2
data2                                                                  100%    0     0.0KB/s   00:00
Uploading data3 to /sftpuser1/data/data3
data3                                                                  100%    0     0.0KB/s   00:00
sftp> ls
data2  data3

6. Download Files from SFTP Server (get, mget)

Download a file in one command

1

sftp {user}@{remote-host}:{remote-file-name} {local-file-name}

Example:

1
2
3
4
5
6

sftp [email protected]:/sftpuser1/citizix.txt .

[email protected]'s password:
Connected to 127.0.0.1.
Fetching /sftpuser1/citizix.txt to ./citizix.txt
/sftpuser1/citizix.txt                                                 100%   32    26.7KB/s   00:00

Download from interactive session

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

sftp>
sftp> ls
data2  data3
sftp> lls
sftp> get data2
Fetching /sftpuser1/data/data2 to data2
sftp> lls
data2
sftp>

Download multiple files with mget:

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10

sftp>
sftp> ls
data2  data3
sftp> lls
sftp> mget data*
Fetching /sftpuser1/data/data2 to data2
Fetching /sftpuser1/data/data3 to data3
sftp> lls
data2  data3
sftp>

7. Create and Delete Directories (mkdir, rmdir)

Use mkdir and rmdir:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

sftp>
sftp> ls
sftp> mkdir data
sftp> ls
data
sftp> rmdir data
sftp>

8. Remove Files (rm)

Use rm to remove remote files:

1
2
3
4

sftp> rm data*
Removing /sftpuser1/data/data2
Removing /sftpuser1/data/data3
sftp>

9. Rename Files (rename)

Use rename:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

sftp>
sftp> ls
data3
sftp> rename data3 data_original
sftp> ls
data_original
sftp>

10. Check Remote Filesystem Usage (df)

Use df to see remote filesystem usage for current directory/path:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

sftp> df
        Size         Used        Avail       (root)    %Capacity
    29540600      5917856     22103188     23622744          20%

sftp> df -h
    Size     Used    Avail   (root)    %Capacity
  28.2GB    5.6GB   21.1GB   22.5GB          20%

The output is for the remote server filesystem, not your local machine.

11. Get Help (help or ?)

To list supported SFTP commands:

1

sftp> ?

Example output:

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

sftp> ?
Available commands:
bye                                Quit sftp
cd path                            Change remote directory to 'path'
chgrp [-h] grp path                Change group of file 'path' to 'grp'
chmod [-h] mode path               Change permissions of file 'path' to 'mode'
chown [-h] own path                Change owner of file 'path' to 'own'
df [-hi] [path]                    Display statistics for current directory or
                                   filesystem containing 'path'
exit                               Quit sftp
get [-afpR] remote [local]         Download file
help                               Display this help text
lcd path                           Change local directory to 'path'
lls [ls-options [path]]            Display local directory listing
lmkdir path                        Create local directory
ln [-s] oldpath newpath            Link remote file (-s for symlink)
lpwd                               Print local working directory
ls [-1afhlnrSt] [path]             Display remote directory listing
lumask umask                       Set local umask to 'umask'
mkdir path                         Create remote directory
progress                           Toggle display of progress meter
put [-afpR] local [remote]         Upload file
pwd                                Display remote working directory
quit                               Quit sftp
reget [-fpR] remote [local]        Resume download file
rename oldpath newpath             Rename remote file
reput [-fpR] local [remote]        Resume upload file
rm path                            Delete remote file
rmdir path                         Remove remote directory
symlink oldpath newpath            Symlink remote file
version                            Show SFTP version
!command                           Execute 'command' in local shell
!                                  Escape to local shell
?                                  Synonym for help

For detailed options:

1

man sftp

Bonus: Useful SFTP Options

Use SSH private key authentication

1

sftp -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 [email protected]

Increase verbosity for debugging

1

sftp -vvv [email protected]

Run in batch mode (automation)

Create a command file:

1
2
3
4
5
6

cat > sftp-batch.txt <<'EOF'
cd /sftpuser1/data
put report.csv
get latest.log
bye
EOF

Run:

1

sftp -b sftp-batch.txt [email protected]

Common SFTP Troubleshooting

Permission denied

  • Confirm username/password or key permissions
  • Verify target path ownership and write permissions
  • Check server-side chroot and SFTP restrictions

Connection timeout or refused

  • Verify host/IP and port
  • Ensure SSH service is running on the server
  • Confirm firewall/security group allows SSH/SFTP

Host key verification failed

  • Server host key changed or mismatch in ~/.ssh/known_hosts
  • Validate server fingerprint, then update known hosts entry safely

Exit the SFTP Session

Exit with bye, exit, or quit:

1

sftp> exit

Summary

You now have a practical workflow for using the Linux SFTP client: connecting securely, navigating directories, transferring files, managing remote content, checking usage, and troubleshooting common errors.

For production environments, prefer SSH key authentication, least-privilege SFTP users, and tightly scoped directory permissions.

comments powered by Disqus
© 2020 - 2026 Citizix, Ltd.
Citizix Ltd
Built with Hugo
Theme Stack designed by Jimmy