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File Transfer (SFTP)

RemoteConsoleSSH includes a built-in SFTP file browser that lets you navigate your server's filesystem, upload files from your device, and download files to your device. SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) runs over your existing SSH connection, so there is no additional setup or port configuration needed.

Opening the File Browser

From an active SSH connection, tap the Files tab at the bottom of the screen. The file browser opens at your home directory on the remote server.

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Info

The SFTP file browser uses the same SSH connection as your terminal session. You do not need to enter credentials again or open a separate connection.

Navigating Directories

The file browser works like a standard file manager:

  • Enter a folder -- Tap any folder to open it and view its contents.
  • Go back -- Use the breadcrumb bar at the top of the screen to jump back to any parent directory. Tap any segment in the path to navigate directly to it.
  • Refresh -- Pull down on the file list to refresh and see the latest contents. This is useful if files are being created or modified by a running process.
  • Hidden files -- Files and directories starting with . are shown by default. You can toggle hidden file visibility from the options menu.

The file list shows each entry's name, size, modification date, and permissions.

Uploading Files

1

Navigate to the target directory

Open the folder on the server where you want to upload files.

2

Tap the upload button

Tap the upload icon in the toolbar. This opens your device's system file picker.

3

Select files

Choose one or more files from your device. On iOS, this opens the Files app picker. On Android, it opens the system file chooser.

4

Upload in progress

A progress indicator shows the upload status for each file. The files are transferred to the current directory on the server.

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Tip

For large files, keep the app in the foreground during the transfer. iOS and Android may suspend background transfers if you switch to another app. If a transfer is interrupted, you can re-upload the file -- SFTP will overwrite the incomplete file.

Downloading Files

1

Find the file

Navigate to the file you want to download.

2

Tap the file

Tapping a file starts the download. On iOS, you will be prompted to choose a save location via the share sheet or Files app. On Android, the file is saved to your Downloads folder by default.

3

Download complete

A notification confirms when the download is finished. The file is now on your device and accessible through your device's file manager.

Creating Directories

To create a new folder on the server:

  1. Navigate to the parent directory where you want the new folder.
  2. Tap the New Folder button in the toolbar.
  3. Enter a name for the directory.
  4. Tap Create. The new directory appears in the file list.

Deleting Files and Directories

To delete a file or directory:

  1. Long-press on the item you want to delete.
  2. A confirmation dialog appears showing the item name.
  3. Tap Delete to confirm.
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Warning

SFTP deletions are permanent and happen directly on the server. There is no trash or recycle bin. Deleted files cannot be recovered unless you have a backup. Double-check the file name before confirming deletion, especially when deleting directories -- the entire directory and its contents are removed recursively.

File Size Considerations

When transferring files on a mobile device, keep these practical limits in mind:

ConsiderationDetails
Available storageCheck your device's free space before downloading large files. iOS and Android will fail the download silently if storage is full.
Transfer speedLarge files over cellular networks can be slow. A 100 MB file on a typical 4G connection takes around 30-60 seconds.
Memory usageVery large files (over 500 MB) may cause the app to use significant memory during transfer. Consider using scp or rsync from the terminal for files larger than 1 GB.
Battery impactExtended file transfers consume battery. Keep your device charged for large uploads or downloads.
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Tip

For transferring many files or very large files, consider using tar to compress them into a single archive on the server first, then download the archive. This is faster and more reliable than transferring many individual files.

# On the server, compress a directory
tar -czf project-backup.tar.gz ./my-project/
 
# Then download project-backup.tar.gz via the file browser

Permissions and Access

The SFTP file browser operates with the permissions of the SSH user you connected as. This means:

  • You can only browse directories your user has read access to.
  • You can only upload to directories your user has write access to.
  • You can only delete files your user has write permissions for.
  • System directories like /etc or /var may be readable but not writable unless you connected as root.

If you need elevated permissions, use sudo in the terminal to perform file operations instead of the SFTP browser.

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