Written 30 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

Browse folders then copy one file

After SSH works, sftp browses folders so you can pick a file and copy it. You don't need FileZilla or a NAS for this.

Copy a file to the computer from your laptop moves one file with no browse. Sync files so only changes copy syncs folder changes. Tonight you use sftp: an interactive session so you can ls, cd, get, put, then bye.

You don't need FileZilla, WinSCP, Cyberduck, or a NAS for this.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. A short name is nicer: give the computer a short name on your laptop so sftp lab is enough. If one file from the laptop with no browse is what you want, that is copy a file to the computer from your laptop. If folder sync of changes is what you want, that is sync files so only changes copy. Skip this whole note if you only need a house share other computers browse. That is a folder the house can open.

What this is

sftp means file transfer over the same SSH login you already have. You start sftp lab on the laptop. You get an interactive sftp> prompt. ls lists folders on the computer. cd changes folders on it. get copies one file to the laptop. put copies one file to the computer. bye leaves.

It is not one file with no browse. That is copy a file to the computer from your laptop. It is not folder sync of changes. That is sync files so only changes copy. It is not a copy already on the computer. That is copy a file without leaving the computer.

Practice browse from the laptop

On the computer first (SSH in). Make sure home is where you sit:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name.

If the path is wrong, run this:

cd ~

Put a practice file in home:

echo hello > ~/sftp-me.txt

On the laptop, browse folders over SSH. A short name from give the computer a short name on your laptop is enough:

sftp lab

If you have no short name yet, use the long form from SSH from the couch:

sftp you@that-address

It may ask for the password, or the key passphrase, the same way SSH does. You want an sftp> prompt. Inside sftp, list home:

ls

You want sftp-me.txt in that list. Copy that file to the laptop:

get sftp-me.txt

Optional: copy one small file the other way, from the laptop to home:

put ./a-small-local.txt

Skip put if you have no small local file yet. Leave:

bye

Check it landed. Still on the laptop:

ssh lab ls ~

Or still in the SSH session on the computer:

ls ~/sftp-me.txt

You want sftp-me.txt in home. On the laptop you also want sftp-me.txt in the folder you sat in when get ran.

Optional aside: if you are already on the computer and only want practice in home, sftp localhost, then get sftp-me.txt sftp-got.txt, then bye. Keep that aside short. The main path tonight is from the laptop.

Optional local commands inside sftp: lls lists files on the laptop. lpwd prints the laptop folder. lcd changes folders on the laptop. The l prefix means laptop side.

If sftp says command not found, install OpenSSH client, then try again:

sudo apt install openssh-client

Debian and Ubuntu laptops usually already have it. That install is not a reason to buy FileZilla.

Useful extras, still home only

Skip files under /etc, SSH folders, or paths you don't own. Practice only in home.

Skip recursive get -r of whole home for this practice. Pick one file first.

Skip rm inside sftp for this practice. Careful delete only when you mean to throw files away. That is delete a file carefully.

Don't forward port 22. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network.

When you are done practicing, throw away the practice file. Careful delete only:

rm -i ~/sftp-me.txt

If you made sftp-got.txt on the computer:

rm -i ~/sftp-got.txt

Skip rm -rf.

What this is not

This is not one file with no browse. That is copy a file to the computer from your laptop. It is not folder sync of changes. That is sync files so only changes copy. It is not a download from a web address. That is download a file onto the computer.

What next

Need folder sync of changes? Sync files so only changes copy. Need one file from the laptop with no browse? Copy a file to the computer from your laptop. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Skip

Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
Skip files under /etc, SSH folders, or paths you don't own. Practice only in home.
Skip FileZilla, WinSCP, and Cyberduck for this practice. sftp lab is enough for this browse.
Skip buying a NAS for one browse then copy.
Skip recursive get -r of whole home for this practice.
Skip rm inside sftp for this practice. Careful delete only: delete a file carefully.
Skip opening SSH to the internet. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.
Skip if you only need a house share other computers browse. That is a folder the house can open.

Sources

Debian: sftp. Ubuntu: sftp. OpenSSH: sftp. Official pages only. For the login, see SSH from the couch. For one file with no browse, see copy a file to the computer from your laptop. For folder sync of changes, see sync files so only changes copy.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the computer from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Don't open this to the internet. Copy a file to the computer from your laptopAfter SSH works, use scp to move one file without a USB stick. You don't need a NAS for this. Sync files so only changes copyAfter SSH works, sync files with rsync so a copy only moves what changed. You don't need a NAS sync app for this. Give the computer a short name on your laptopAfter SSH works, put a short name in your laptop SSH config so you type ssh lab instead of the long address. You don't need a new router. Copy a file without leaving the computerAfter SSH works, copy a file with cp so you can edit a spare without wrecking the original. You don't need a NAS for this. Download a file onto the computerAfter SSH works, pull one file from a web address with curl. You don't need a browser on the computer for this. See what's in a folderAfter SSH works, list the folder you are sitting in with ls. You don't need a file manager for this. Move into a folderAfter SSH works, change folders with cd. You don't need a file manager for this. Split a file into smaller piecesAfter SSH works, split one file into smaller pieces with split so a paste or copy fits size limits. You don't need a zip app for this. Pack files into one archiveAfter SSH works, pack files into one archive with tar so you can copy one file instead of a folder. You don't need a zip app for this. Shrink one fileAfter SSH works, shrink one file with gzip so a copy is smaller. You don't need a zip app for this. Unpack a zip you already haveAfter SSH works, unpack a zip with unzip so files come out of a zip. You don't need a zip desktop app for this. Delete a file carefullyAfter SSH works, delete one file with rm -i. Ask first. Skip rm -rf. You don't need a NAS for this. Turn off password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the computer is the backup now. Keep the computer on the house networkSSH and Pi-hole belong on the house network. Skip this if you never opened the router settings. Don't forward port 22.