How to transfer files to a Windows VPS

Method 1: copy and paste

This is the quickest way for a few files.

1. Connect with Remote Desktop.
2. On your own PC, select a file and press Ctrl + C.
3. Click inside the Remote Desktop window, open a folder on the server, and press Ctrl + V.

Copying also works the other way. It works well for small and medium files. Very large files can be slow, or can freeze the copy.

Method 2: share a drive from your PC

You can make a drive on your own computer appear inside the server.

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) and click Show Options.
2. Open the Local Resources tab.
3. Under Local devices and resources, click More.
4. Tick Drives (or choose the drives or folders you want) and click OK.
5. Connect as usual.

Inside the server, open This PC. Your drives appear as "C on YOURPCNAME". You can drag files in either direction.

Only share the drives you need, and disconnect them from the settings when you no longer need them. A shared drive is a path from the server to your PC.

Method 3: cloud storage

Upload the files to a service you already use, such as Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox. Then open the service in a browser on the server and download them. This is reliable for large files because the transfer happens directly between the cloud and the server and not through your own connection.

Method 4: download from a link

If the software or file is on a website, download it straight to the server in a browser. This is the best way to get programs onto the server.

Tips

• Compress first. Put many files in one ZIP file. One large file moves more reliably than thousands of small ones.
• Scan what you upload. Make sure files from other people are safe, because the server is only as safe as what runs on it.
• Keep a copy. Do not make the server the only place a file exists. See how to back up a Windows VPS.
• Use a good connection. A slow home upload speed is the limit for method 1 and 2.

On a Mac or phone

The Windows App on Mac lets you share a folder with the server from its connection settings. On phones, cloud storage (method 3) is usually the easiest.