How to Configure WinSCP | HostGator Support
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How to Configure WinSCP

 

WinSCP allows you to connect your remote server via FTP, SCP, or SFTP protocols. In the video below, we will walk you through gathering the information you need to put in WinSCP, getting connected, and managing the files on your server within the application.

SFTP can be used on most of our servers, except for Optimized WordPress and Windows shared hosting. You must have your port set to 2222 (port 22 for Dedicated and VPS accounts) and have SSH enabled on your hosting account to use this function properly. For more information about SFTP and FTPS, this article, Secure FTP, SFTP and FTPS, contains links to our library of FTP articles.
 
 

Connecting FTP with WinSCP

You'll need to log into your cPanel and gather this information from the right-hand side General Information panel:

  • cPanel username (Current User)
  • Site IP

 

You will also need your cPanel password. If you logged into your cPanel directly, then you will use that same username and password for the steps below. If you don't know your cPanel password, you can easily reset it in the customer portal. Just note that it can take up to 24 hours for your new cPanel password to sync with your default FTP account, and you'll have to wait until that happens before the new password will work with any FTP client like WinSCP.

To connect via WinSCP:

  1. FTP settings must be set to the following:
    • File protocol should be FTP
    • Port needs to be set to 21.
    • No encryption
    • Hostname is the Server IP you obtained from the cPanel.
    • Username will be the FTP account's username.
    • Password will be the FTP account's password.
  2. To connect immediately, click Login.

Save Login Information:

WinSCP allows you to create as many logins as you like. To save your login information:

  1. On the login screen, click Save instead of Login.
  2. In the popup that appears, enter a name for the FTP login.
  3. Click OK.

Using a Saved Login

To use a saved Login:

  1. Click on the Account Name.
  2. Click Login.

WinSCP will then log in with the selected account's saved information.