How to Access SFTP Site from Windows Explorer
Accessing an SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) site from Windows Explorer can be a convenient way to transfer files securely. SFTP is a network protocol that provides file transfer capabilities and operates over SSH (Secure Shell). This guide will walk you through the steps to access an SFTP site using Windows Explorer, making it easier to manage your files remotely.
1. Install an SFTP Client
Before you can access an SFTP site from Windows Explorer, you need to install an SFTP client. There are several free and paid options available, such as FileZilla, WinSCP, and Cyberduck. For this guide, we will use FileZilla, which is a popular and free SFTP client.
To install FileZilla, follow these steps:
– Go to the FileZilla website (filezilla-project.org) and download the latest version of FileZilla.
– Open the downloaded file and follow the installation wizard to install FileZilla on your computer.
2. Set Up Your SFTP Connection
Once FileZilla is installed, you need to set up your SFTP connection. Here’s how to do it:
– Open FileZilla and click on “File” in the menu bar.
– Select “Site Manager” from the dropdown menu.
– In the “Site Manager” window, click on “New Site” to create a new SFTP connection.
– Enter a name for your site in the “Host name” field.
– In the “Protocol” dropdown menu, select “SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol.”
– Enter the IP address or domain name of the SFTP server in the “Host” field.
– Specify the port number (default is 22) in the “Port” field.
– Enter your username and password in the “User” and “Password” fields, respectively.
– Click “OK” to save your settings.
3. Connect to the SFTP Site
Now that you have set up your SFTP connection, you can connect to the SFTP site from Windows Explorer:
– In FileZilla, click on the “Quick Connect” button.
– If everything is set up correctly, you should see your SFTP site listed in the left-hand pane.
– Double-click on the site to establish a connection.
4. Accessing the SFTP Site from Windows Explorer
Once you are connected to the SFTP site, you can access it from Windows Explorer by following these steps:
– Right-click on the SFTP site in the left-hand pane of FileZilla.
– Select “Open As Windows Explorer” from the dropdown menu.
– A new Windows Explorer window will open, displaying the contents of your SFTP site.
Now you can navigate through the files and folders on your SFTP site just like you would in any other Windows Explorer window. You can copy, move, delete, and upload files to your SFTP site using standard Windows Explorer operations.
5. Disconnect from the SFTP Site
When you are finished working with the SFTP site, it’s important to disconnect from the server to ensure your connection is secure. To disconnect, follow these steps:
– In FileZilla, click on the SFTP site in the left-hand pane.
– Right-click on the site and select “Disconnect” from the dropdown menu.
By following these steps, you can easily access an SFTP site from Windows Explorer, providing a secure and convenient way to manage your files remotely.
