Transfer Files to a DigitalOcean Droplet with SFTP

DigitalOcean Droplets are cloud servers that you manage over SSH — and SFTP is the built-in way to move files to and from one. There's no FTP server installed by default, so SFTP is the transfer path you'll actually use. With FilePort Pro you can connect to your Droplet from a browser and upload files without installing a desktop client.

Connect Now — access your Droplet

DigitalOcean Droplets use SFTP, not FTP

A DigitalOcean Droplet is infrastructure as a service: a virtual server you reach over SSH, usually as the root user (or a sudo user you add). Because it's a plain server, it does not come with an FTP server running by default. To move files you use SFTP, which runs inside the SSH connection on port 22 — the same port you use to log in with SSH. If you specifically want plain FTP, you'd have to install and configure an FTP server such as vsftpd yourself and open the relevant ports. For most people that's unnecessary: SFTP is already there, encrypted, and does everything FTP does plus a smoother login.

What you need to SFTP to a Droplet

Connecting to a Droplet over SFTP takes just a few pieces of information:

• The Droplet's public IP address (or a domain that points to it).
• A username — on a newly created Droplet the default is root; after you add a sudo user you can use that account instead.
• Port 22 for SFTP/SSH (or whatever SSH port you've configured).
• A way to log in — normally an SSH key or a password, depending on how you set the Droplet up. More on this below.

Passwords vs SSH keys on a Droplet

Here's the important, honest part. DigitalOcean Droplets are commonly created to authenticate with an SSH private key rather than a password. FilePort Pro connects with a username and a password — it does not support SSH private keys in the browser. So to use FilePort Pro with a Droplet that currently authenticates only with an SSH key, you first enable password authentication on the server:

• Set a password for the root user (for example with passwd, run as root).
• Make sure sshd allows password logins — check that PasswordAuthentication is set to yes in your SSH server configuration and restart the SSH service after any change.

Once password authentication is enabled, FilePort Pro connects with your Droplet's IP address, the root username, and that password. SFTP never sends your password in cleartext — the login happens inside the encrypted SSH session, so your credentials and files stay protected in transit.

Connect to your Droplet from the browser

With password authentication set up, connecting from the browser is quick:

1. Open FilePort Pro — it lives in the browser, so there's nothing to install.
2. Choose SFTP and enter your Droplet's public IP as the host, port 22, and the root username.
3. Enter the password you set, then click Connect.
4. You land in the server's file list — browse folders with breadcrumbs, upload files by clicking or dragging them in, and download what you need, including whole folders as a ZIP archive.

Likewise, if you'd rather keep using an SSH key with a desktop client, that continues to work — FilePort Pro simply offers a password-based, in-browser path instead. And if you later prefer plain FTP on a Droplet, the web FTP client in your browser handles that once you've installed an FTP server and opened its ports.

Make sure your firewall allows SFTP

For SFTP to work, the SSH port (22 by default) has to be reachable. If your Droplet runs a firewall such as ufw, make sure it allows the SSH/SFTP port — for example sudo ufw allow 22 — and that you can still SSH in. If you're connecting from a browser while away from your usual network, confirm the port is open to the network you're on; otherwise the connection will time out even though your credentials are correct.

A note on Droplet SFTP security

Because FilePort Pro relays your connection, your Droplet credentials pass through our server to reach yours — never "credentials never leave your browser." Your SFTP login is sent inside the encrypted SSH session, held in memory only for the active connection, never stored, never logged, and the session ends when you disconnect or after about 15 minutes of inactivity. For added safety on a server that faces the internet, many people prefer key-based login via a desktop client over password login — if that matters to you, keep using the key path there. See our security page for how FilePort Pro handles your credentials.

Frequently asked questions

Does DigitalOcean have an FTP server?

No. DigitalOcean Droplets don't come with an FTP server installed. The standard way to move files is SFTP over SSH on port 22. If you specifically need plain FTP, you can install and configure a server such as vsftpd yourself and open the relevant ports.

How do I SFTP to a DigitalOcean Droplet?

Use your Droplet's public IP address, the username you connect with (root on a new Droplet, or a sudo user you've added), and port 22. Authenticate with your password after enabling password authentication if needed, then connect from an SFTP client — your browser included.

What user do I use to SFTP into a Droplet?

On a newly created Droplet the default user is root. Once you add a sudo user, you can use that account instead. Use the same username you use for SSH, and make sure that user has permission to access the files you need.

Can I upload files to a Droplet from the browser?

Yes, if you enable password authentication. FilePort Pro connects with a username and password — it doesn't use SSH keys in the browser. Set a user password and make sure sshd allows password logins, then connect from the browser with your Droplet's IP, username, and password.

What port does SFTP use on a DigitalOcean Droplet?

SFTP runs over SSH on port 22 by default, the same port you use to SSH in. If you've changed the SSH port on your Droplet, use that port instead, and make sure your firewall allows it.

More host guides

DigitalOcean is infrastructure you manage yourself, which is different from shared hosting. If your site is hosted with a managed provider instead, see the matching guide:

• cPanel FTP — upload without the File Manager
• GoDaddy FTP & SFTP — where to find credentials
• Bluehost FTP & SFTP — how to upload files
• Hostinger SFTP & FTP — hPanel credentials
• SiteGround SFTP & FTP — set up in Site Tools
• DreamHost SFTP & FTP — connect from the browser
• Plesk FTP & SFTP — access & find credentials
• Cloudways SFTP — upload files from the browser
• AWS Lightsail SFTP — upload from the browser
• AWS EC2 SFTP — connect from the browser
• WordPress FTP — upload themes and plugins
• FTP connection errors — why they happen and how to fix them
• SFTP connection errors — host keys, publickey, refused, and timeouts
• FileZilla alternatives — free desktop and no-install options

For more on browser-based transfers, see the web SFTP client. Questions about what we store? Read the privacy policy or the security page.

Get started — upload to a Droplet from your browser

No install, no sign-up, no credentials stored. Connect Now — access your Droplet

Need a shared-hosting guide instead? See the web SFTP client. Questions about what we store? Read the privacy policy.