Enable an SFTP server and connect to it

SFTP lets you upload and download files on your Windows VPS from your PC, with FileZilla or WinSCP, without going through Remote Desktop. It’s the handiest way to upload a FiveM server, resources or backups.

Windows Server 2025 already includes the OpenSSH server (which provides SFTP): you only need to enable it, once.

Credentials

• Host: the VPS IP address (IPv4 block on the dashboard)
• Port: 22
• Username: Administrateur, in 100% of cases
• Password: the one set when ordering (or the one you changed from the Security tab)

Step 1: enable the SFTP server on the VPS

Connect to the VPS over Remote Desktop, then pick one of the two methods.

Method A: with Server Manager

1. Open Server Manager (it opens at startup, otherwise Start menu → Server Manager)
2. Click Local Server in the left menu
3. In the properties list, find Remote SSH Access: it shows Disabled
4. Click Disabled, then enable access in the window that opens
5. Click Refresh (arrow at the top): the line should show Enabled

Method B: with PowerShell

Open PowerShell as administrator (right-click the Start menu → Terminal (Admin)) and paste these commands:

# 1. Check that the OpenSSH server is installed
Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object Name -like 'OpenSSH.Server*'

# 2. Install it if the line says "NotPresent" (otherwise skip)
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Server~~~~0.0.1.0

# 3. Start the service and launch it automatically with Windows
Start-Service sshd
Set-Service -Name sshd -StartupType Automatic

# 4. Check it runs: Status should say "Running"
Get-Service sshd

Check the Windows firewall

Enabling it normally creates a firewall rule for port 22. Check it in PowerShell:

Get-NetFirewallRule -Name 'OpenSSH-Server-In-TCP' | Select-Object Name, Enabled

If nothing is found, create the rule:

New-NetFirewallRule -Name 'SSH1' -DisplayName 'SSH1' -Enabled True -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -Action Allow -LocalPort 22

Anti-DDoS

Port 22 is part of the default port filters: nothing to open on the FIVEMSHIELD side. For more security, restrict SSH to your IPs: only your addresses will be able to connect over SFTP.

Step 2: connect from your PC

With FileZilla

Download FileZilla Client from filezilla-project.org, then fill the Quickconnect bar at the top:

• Host: sftp:// followed by the VPS IP, for example sftp://203.0.113.30
• Username: Administrateur
• Password: your password
• Port: 22

Click Quickconnect. On the first connection, FileZilla shows the server’s host key: tick Always trust this host then OK.

Tip

To avoid retyping your credentials, use File → Site Manager → New site, with protocol SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol, logon type Normal, user Administrateur and your password.

With WinSCP

Download WinSCP from winscp.net, then in the Login window:

• File protocol: SFTP
• Host name: the VPS IP
• Port number: 22
• User name: Administrateur
• Password: your password

Click Save to keep it, then Login. Accept the host key on the first connection (Accept).

From the command line

Windows 10/11, macOS and Linux include an SFTP client:

sftp Administrateur@203.0.113.30

Where are my files?

Over SFTP you land in the account’s home folder: C:\Users\Administrateur. Windows paths are written with / and a slash before the drive letter:

Windows folder	Path to type in SFTP
C:\Users\Administrateur\Desktop	/C:/Users/Administrateur/Desktop
C:\FXServer	/C:/FXServer
Root of drive C:\	/C:/

In FileZilla or WinSCP, type the path in the address field of the right-hand (server) panel then Enter.

Going further: SSH key login

An SSH key replaces the password and is much safer. On Windows, an administrator’s public key does not go in the user folder, but in a shared file.

1. On your PC, create a key if you don’t have one:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519

2. Copy the content of the created .pub file (for example C:\Users\YourName\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub)
3. On the VPS, in an admin PowerShell, add it to the administrators file and set its permissions:

   Add-Content -Path C:\ProgramData\ssh\administrators_authorized_keys -Value 'ssh-ed25519 AAAA... your-pc'
   icacls.exe C:\ProgramData\ssh\administrators_authorized_keys /inheritance:r /grant 'Administrators:F' /grant 'SYSTEM:F'

4. In FileZilla or WinSCP, choose key file authentication and select your private key

Caution

Without the icacls command, OpenSSH ignores the file (permissions too open) and the key doesn’t work.

Troubleshooting

Message	Likely cause	Fix
Connection timed out / Network error	sshd service stopped or port 22 blocked	Get-Service sshd should say Running. Check the Windows firewall rule and your Anti-DDoS port rules
Connection refused	The OpenSSH server isn’t enabled	Redo step 1
Authentication failed / Access denied	Wrong user or password	The user is Administrateur, not Administrator. Check the password, or change it in the Security tab
Refused after enabling restricted access	Your IP isn’t in the admin IP list	Add it in Restricted access