How to Copy a File from/to a Remote Server (2024)

scp command is being used to copy files from a remote server to a local machine and vice versa. It uses ssh to do secure file transfer.

1. Copy a file from a remote server to a local machine

It will ask the password for remote user

scp [emailprotected]:/remote/path/to/file /local/path

* symbol can be used to copy multiple files by pattern like w3docs* which will copy w3docs.sql, w3docs1.pdf and etc.

2. Copy a directory from a remote server to a local machine

-r should be used for directories

scp -r [emailprotected]:/remote/path/to/directory /local/path

3. Copy a file from a local machine to a remote server

scp /local/file/path username@example:/remote/path

4. Copy a directory from a local machine to a remote server

-r should be used for directories

scp -r /local/directory/path username@example:/remote/directory/path

5. Copy files by using RSA keys

If there is an identity key (RSA) instead of password than -i should be added

scp -i /path/to/key [emailprotected]:/remote/path/to/file /local/path