Transfer files to a Windows server (RDP and SFTP)

There are three practical ways to move files between your own computer and a Windows VPS or Admin RDP. Pick by size: the clipboard for a few small files, a redirected drive for folders, and SFTP for large or repeated transfers.

Option 1: copy and paste through Remote Desktop

Copy a file in File Explorer on your computer, then paste it into a folder in the remote session. This works in the Windows Remote Desktop Connection app and in Windows App on Mac.

• Best for a handful of small files.
• Large files are slow and the paste can fail without a clear error. Use option 2 for anything big.

If paste stops working, see Copy and paste through RDP.

Option 2: share a local drive with the session

From Windows (mstsc):

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection and click Show Options.
2. Open the Local Resources tab and click More… under Local devices and resources.
3. Tick Drives (or just the drive you need) and click OK, then Connect.
4. In the remote session, open File Explorer → This PC. Your drive appears as, for example, C on YOUR-PC. It is also reachable at \\tsclient\C.

From a Mac (Windows App): edit the PC, open Folders, tick Redirect folders and add the folder you want to share.

Option 3: SFTP

For big uploads, website deployments or scripted backups, install OpenSSH Server on the server (guide) and use an SFTP client such as WinSCP or FileZilla, or scp from a terminal:

scp -r ./site Administrator@203.0.113.25:C:/inetpub/example/

SFTP resumes better than the clipboard and does not need an open RDP session.

Moving files between the server and cloud storage

You can also sign in to your own cloud storage in a browser on the server and download or upload from there. Server-to-internet transfers are often faster than going through your home connection.

Troubleshooting

• Drive does not appear: disconnect and reconnect after ticking Drives; the setting applies only to new connections.
• Copy is very slow: that is your home upload speed. Large uploads finish faster when started overnight with SFTP.

Next steps

• Back up a Windows VPS
• Install IIS and host a website