> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to Copy Files to a Server with scp and rsync > Copy a file to a server with scp: run scp file.zip alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/. Use rsync -avz to copy or sync whole folders and resume large transfers. To copy a file to a server, run `scp backup.zip alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/` on your own computer. Add `-r` for a folder and `-P 2222` for a custom SSH port. For large folders or repeated copies use `rsync -avz ./site/ alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/`, which only sends what changed and can resume. Both use your normal SSH login. | Difficulty | Time | Works on | Needs | | - | - | - | - | | Beginner | 5 minutes | scp: Windows 10 / 11, macOS, Linux. rsync: macOS, Linux (both ends) | Working SSH login | ## Before you start * You need to be able to [SSH into the server](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-connect-to-a-linux-server-with-ssh.md). `scp` and `rsync` use the same user, port and key. * Run the commands on **your own computer**, not inside an SSH session, unless you are copying between two servers. * `rsync` must be installed on both machines: `sudo apt install rsync` (Ubuntu/Debian) or `sudo dnf install rsync` (AlmaLinux/Rocky). ## Should I use scp or rsync? | | scp | rsync | | - | - | - | | Single files, quick copies | Good | Good | | Large folders | Copies everything every time | Copies only changed files | | Resume after a dropped connection | No | Yes, with `-P` | | Mirror a folder (delete extras) | No | Yes, with `--delete` | | Built into Windows | Yes | No | Since OpenSSH 9.0, `scp` uses the SFTP protocol under the hood ([release notes](https://www.openssh.org/txt/release-9.0)), so it works anywhere SFTP works. ## How to copy files with scp The pattern is `scp `. A remote location is written `user@host:path`. ```bash theme={null} # Upload a file to your home folder on the server scp backup.zip alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/ # Upload a whole folder scp -r site alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/ # Download a file from the server into the current folder scp alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/backup.zip . # Use a custom SSH port (capital P) scp -P 2222 backup.zip alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/ ``` On Windows, write local paths the Windows way, for example `scp C:\Users\alex\Downloads\backup.zip alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/`. ## How to copy and sync folders with rsync ```bash theme={null} # Copy the contents of ./site into /var/www/site on the server rsync -avz ./site/ alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/ # Show progress and keep partial files so a large transfer can resume rsync -avzP backup.tar.gz alex@203.0.113.10:/home/alex/ # Use a custom SSH port rsync -avz -e "ssh -p 2222" ./site/ alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/ # Download from the server rsync -avz alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/ ./site-backup/ ``` What the options mean: `-a` keeps permissions, times and folder structure, `-v` lists files, `-z` compresses during transfer, `-P` shows progress and keeps partial files. ### The trailing slash matters | Command | Result on the server | | - | - | | `rsync -avz site/ alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/` | Files of `site` land directly in `/var/www/site/` | | `rsync -avz site alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/` | You get `/var/www/site/site/` | ### How to mirror a folder safely `--delete` removes files on the destination that no longer exist in the source. Always run it with `--dry-run` (`-n`) first and read the list: ```bash theme={null} rsync -avzn --delete ./site/ alex@203.0.113.10:/var/www/site/ ``` ```text theme={null} sending incremental file list deleting old-page.html new-page.html sent 124 bytes received 37 bytes 322.00 bytes/sec total size is 4 speedup is 0.02 (DRY RUN) ``` If the list looks right, run the same command without `n`. > [!WARNING] > > `--delete` with the wrong path (for example a missing trailing slash, or source and destination swapped) can wipe a folder on the server. Use `--dry-run` first and keep a [backup](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-schedule-and-restore-backups.md). ## How to check it worked List the copied files on the server and compare sizes: ```bash theme={null} ssh alex@203.0.113.10 'ls -l /home/alex/' ``` For rsync, running the same command a second time should transfer nothing: ```text theme={null} sending incremental file list sent 157 bytes received 84 bytes 482.00 bytes/sec total size is 2 speedup is 0.01 ``` ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I copy files directly between two servers? Yes. Log in to one server and run `scp` or `rsync` there with the other server as the destination. The first server needs a login (password or key) for the second. ### Why does scp say "Permission denied"? Either the login failed (see [permission denied (publickey)](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-fix-ssh-permission-denied-publickey.md)) or your user can't write to the target folder. Copy to your home folder first, then move the file with `sudo` over SSH. ### Can I use an SSH config alias with scp and rsync? Yes. With a `Host web` entry in your [SSH config](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-use-ssh-config-file-shortcuts.md), `scp backup.zip web:` and `rsync -avz site/ web:/var/www/site/` work. ### Is rsync a backup? It copies files, which is a start. For versioned, encrypted backups see [how to back up a Linux server](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-back-up-a-linux-server.md) and [rsync backups](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-back-up-files-with-rsync.md). ## Related guides > [card] [VPS and dedicated server guides](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/vps-and-dedicated-server-guides.md) > > Every guide in this section. > [card] [SFTP, WinSCP and FileZilla](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-transfer-files-with-sftp-winscp-and-filezilla.md) > > Drag-and-drop transfers. > [card] [Back up files with rsync](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-back-up-files-with-rsync.md) > > Scheduled rsync backups. > [card] [SSH config shortcuts](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-use-ssh-config-file-shortcuts.md) > > Shorter scp and rsync commands. > [card] [Compress files with tar](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-compress-and-extract-files-tar-zip.md) > > Pack a folder before copying. *** > [!NOTE] > > **Checked against the official [OpenSSH scp manual](https://man.openbsd.org/scp) and [rsync manual](https://download.samba.org/pub/rsync/rsync.1)** on 4 November 2026; all scp and rsync commands, including `--dry-run --delete`, were tested with OpenSSH 9.6 and rsync 3.2.7 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. > [!NOTE] > > ### Need Extra Help? > > If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist: > > * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website. > * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) > * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting) > * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com) > [!TIP] > > ### Save on Your Hosting > > Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order! *** **Last Updated:** November 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.