How to Transfer Files to RDP and VPS: 5 Easy Methods

One of the first things you'll want to do on a new RDP or VPS is move files onto it: installers, EA files, spreadsheets, website backups. There are several ways to do it, and the best one depends on file size and whether you're using Windows RDP or a Linux VPS. Here are the five most reliable methods, step by step.

Which method should you use?

Method 1: Copy and paste through the clipboard

The quickest option for a few small files. In Remote Desktop Connection, go to Show Options → Local Resources and make sure Clipboard is ticked. Then copy a file on your PC (Ctrl + C) and paste it into a folder on the RDP (Ctrl + V).

Clipboard transfer can be slow or fail with large files. For anything over a few hundred MB, use one of the methods below.

Method 2: Share a local drive with the RDP

This makes a folder or drive on your computer show up inside the RDP, like a USB stick.

On Windows (mstsc)

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection → Show Options → Local Resources.
2. Under "Local devices and resources", click More…
3. Expand Drives and tick the drive you want to share (for example D:).
4. Connect. On the RDP, open File Explorer → This PC. Your drive appears as "D on YOUR-PC".

On a Mac (Windows App)

1. Right-click your saved PC → Edit → Folders tab.
2. Tick Redirect folders and add a folder from your Mac.
3. Reconnect. The folder appears under This PC on the RDP.

Method 3: Use cloud storage

For big files, upload them from your PC to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive or WeTransfer, then download them on the server. Downloads on the server usually run very fast thanks to its data-center connection (all HAAN HOSTING servers have a 10 Gbps port), so this is often the quickest route for multi-GB files.

Method 4: Download files directly on the server

If a file is publicly available, such as software installers, MetaTrader from your broker, or a WordPress release, skip your PC entirely and download it straight onto the server.

On a Windows RDP, open the browser. Or use PowerShell:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com/file.zip" -OutFile "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\file.zip"

On a Linux VPS:

wget https://example.com/file.zip
# or
curl -LO https://example.com/file.zip

Method 5: SFTP and SCP (best for Linux VPS)

SFTP transfers files securely over your existing SSH connection, with nothing extra to install on the server.

With a graphical client

Install FileZilla (Windows, Mac, Linux) or WinSCP (Windows). Connect with:

• Protocol: SFTP
• Host: your server IP
• Port: 22 (or your custom SSH port)
• Username and password, or your SSH private key

Then drag and drop files between the two panes.

From the command line

# upload a file to the VPS
scp backup.zip deploy@203.0.113.10:/home/deploy/

# download a folder from the VPS
scp -r deploy@203.0.113.10:/var/www/example.com ./site-backup

# sync large folders efficiently (only changed files)
rsync -avz --progress ./site/ deploy@203.0.113.10:/var/www/example.com/

Troubleshooting

• Copy-paste stopped working: On the RDP, open Task Manager, end rdpclip.exe, then run rdpclip from Win + R to restart the clipboard.
• Drive doesn't appear: Disconnect fully and reconnect after enabling it in Local Resources.
• SFTP connection refused: Check the port and that your firewall allows SSH. See Linux VPS first steps.

New to RDP? Start with how to connect to RDP from any device.