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Secure Copy Files Between Linux and Linux Servers

SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) is a simple and secure way to transfer files between your Linux machine and a Linux server. This article explains how to use the scp command in the Linux terminal to copy files to and from a Linux server.

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Step 1: Ensure SSH is Enabled on the Linux Server

Make sure the SSH service is installed and running on your Linux server. Use the following command: 
sudo apt-get install openssh-server

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Step 2: Use the scp Command to Transfer Files

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Copy a File from Local to Remote Server

To upload a file from your local machine to the Linux server: 
scp /path/to/local/file username@hostname_or_ip:/path/to/remote/directory
  • Replace /path/to/local/file with the full path to the file on your local machine.
  • Replace username with your Linux server username.
  • Replace hostname_or_ip with your server’s IP address or domain name.
  • Replace /path/to/remote/directory with the target directory on the server.

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Copy a File from Remote Server to Local Machine

To download a file from the Linux server to your local machine: 
scp username@hostname_or_ip:/path/to/remote/file /path/to/local/directory
  • Replace /path/to/remote/file with the file’s path on the server.
  • Replace /path/to/local/directory with the target directory on your local machine.

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Example Commands

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Upload Example

scp ~/Documents/example.txt user@192.168.1.10:/home/user/uploads

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Download Example

scp user@192.168.1.10:/home/user/uploads/example.txt ~/Downloads
Last modified on January 28, 2026