Three ways to run SFTP from a Windows PC

SFTP is not FTP with encryption bolted on; it is a file subsystem inside an SSH session. That single fact explains why it uses port 22, why it works wherever SSH works, and why your existing keys apply.

Option 1 — the built-in sftp command

sftp [email protected]

Windows 10 and 11 include this through the OpenSSH client. Good for a quick get or put, and available on any machine without installing anything.

Option 2 — PSFTP from the PuTTY package

psftp [email protected] -i C:\keys\id.ppk

PSFTP understands .ppk keys and Pageant, so it fits naturally if PuTTY is already your terminal. Batch mode with -b makes it scriptable for Task Scheduler.

Option 3 — a graphical client

Dual-pane clients suit anyone who moves directories rather than single files. The Bitvise SSH Client includes one that resumes interrupted transfers and keeps a queue; see the SFTP page for its options.

Which to choose

One file, right now — the built-in command.
Scheduled or scripted transfers — PSFTP or sftpc with a script file.
Daily interactive work with many files — a graphical client.

Questions people ask about this

Can File Explorer map an SFTP location as a drive?

Not natively. Windows maps WebDAV and SMB, not SFTP, so you need a third-party tool for a drive letter.

Do SFTP and SSH use the same credentials?

Yes. It is the same authentication on the same connection, so a key that logs you in also transfers files.

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