2 Easiest Way - SFTP Transfer File from One Server to Another

• Why Transfer Files Between Two SFTP Servers?
• How to Make SFTP Transfer File from One Server to Another 
  ►Way 1: Use Cloud Transfer for Bulk FTP-to-FTP Transfers
  ►Way 2: Use Copy to for Small FTP File Transfers
• Further Reading: Go Beyond File Transfers with Website Backup
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Why Transfer Files Between Two SFTP Servers?

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a secure file transfer protocol that encrypts both data and authentication information during transmission. Compared with traditional FTP, SFTP offers better security, making it a popular choice for website management, server administration, and business file transfers.

As your infrastructure grows, you may need to transfer files between two SFTP servers instead of simply uploading files from your local computer. This is a common requirement for website owners, developers, and IT administrators in various situations. Using SFTP to transfer files from one server to another offers several advantages:

How to Make SFTP Transfer File from One Server to Another

To let SFTP transfer files between servers, you can take advantage of MultCloud, a free and professional cloud file service. After you add your SFTP servers to MultCloud, you directly access the SFTP files on it and manage them with functions like Copy to, Copy, Cut, Delete, Rename, and Share. If you do not like to copy and paste to transfer files between servers, you can consider utilizing “Copy to” which can directly save files to another SFTP server.

Besides, if you pursue more customizable options, you can use Cloud Transfer. It helps establish an automatic file transfer task. Moreover, you are allowed to filter the files you want to transfer or ignore by file extensions and set a preferred time to auto-start this task. Moreover, if you want to transfer files from one SFTP server to another because the current server is overloaded, you can choose to let the task delete the transferred files after the task is completed.

There are specific steps for using Cloud Transfer and Copy to to move files from one SFTP server to another.

Way 1: Use Cloud Transfer for Bulk FTP-to-FTP Transfers

Step 1. Register as a MultCloud user.

Go to the MultCloud website and click “Get started for free” to enter the signup page. In that page, you can enter your email address and password to sign up. Or, you can easily register with your Google, Facebook, or Apple accounts.

Step 2. Add SFTP servers to MultCloud.

Click “Add Cloud” in the left bar and choose the FTP logo, tap the downward arrow in the second box of “Display Name”, and choose SFTP. Then, enter the hostname, port, username, and password to let MultCloud access your SFTP files. Also, repeat the step to add another SFTP server.

Step 3. Create a Cloud Transfer task.

Select “Cloud Transfer” in the left bar and choose the source and target SFTP server in the FROM and TO box. Then, you can open “Options” to check the transfer settings. If you want to schedule the task and filter the files, open “Schedule” and “Filter” to personalize.

Step 4. Start the task.

After all the settings, you can press on the “Transfer Now” tab to run this transfer task. The transfer can be finished quickly and can still proceed offline.

Way 2: Use Copy to for Small FTP File Transfers

Step 1. Open MultCloud and sign up for a MultCloud.

Step 2. Add the two SFTP servers to MultCloud with the same step outlined above.

Step 3. Open the source server and choose the files you want to transfer.

Step 4. Click “Copy to” in the upper bar and choose the destination server in the list. Then, click “OK” to start transferring.

Except for transferring files from one SFTP server to another, MultCloud can also help you let SFTP copy file to another directory by the “Copy” function. You can choose the desired files and click the “Copy” tab. Then, navigate to the target directory and click “Paste” to save the files there.

Further Reading: Go Beyond File Transfers with Website Backup

Transferring files between two FTP servers keeps your data moving, but it doesn't guarantee your website can be recovered if something goes wrong. Accidental deletions, failed updates, or server issues can still put your website at risk. That's why many website owners use website backups alongside FTP transfers. While file transfers keep servers up to date, backups preserve recoverable copies of your website, giving you a reliable way to restore your data whenever needed.

If you're looking for an easier way to protect your website, MultCloud also provides a Website Backup feature. You can automatically back up your website to cloud storage or another server without downloading files manually, making it easy to combine secure file transfers with reliable disaster recovery.

Step 1. Once you sign in MultCloud dashboard, click "Website Backup" section in the left side bar.

Step 2. Click "WEBSITE TO BACKUP" > "Add Website" and fill in the host, username, password, port to add your SFTP server. Add your destination drive with the same step.

Step 3. Configure the backup settings in "Options" or "Schedule" just like Cloud Transfer. Then, click "Backup Now" to begin the process.

Conclusion

Whether you're migrating a website, moving large folders, or copying a few files, MultCloud makes it easy to transfer files from one SFTP server to another. With Cloud Transfer, you can automate large-scale migrations, while Copy to is ideal for quick one-time copies or transferring files to multiple destinations. Both methods eliminate manual downloads and simplify SFTP file management.

Beyond file transfers, MultCloud also offers Cloud Sync, Website Backup, and Email Migration to help you automate data management across servers and cloud storage. Create a free account and find the easiest way to manage all your transfers from one place.

FAQs

Q1: Can I transfer files between two FTP servers without downloading them first?

Yes. You can transfer files directly between two FTP servers using a cloud-based service like MultCloud. The transfer runs server to server, so you don't need to download files to your computer first. This saves time, reduces bandwidth usage, and avoids interruptions caused by unstable local connections.

Q2: How long does it take to transfer files from one FTP server to another?

The transfer time depends on the amount of data, server speed, and network conditions. Small folders may finish in minutes, while large website migrations can take much longer. Based on our testing, transferring a 10.4 GB video file took approximately 20 minutes, with an average transfer speed of 8.8 MB/s.

Q3: Can I transfer an entire FTP server to another FTP server?

Yes. Most FTP transfer tools including MultCloud let you migrate an entire FTP server, including all folders and files, in one task. This is useful for website migration, server replacement, or creating a complete copy of your data while preserving the original folder structure.

Q4: Is FTP to FTP transfer safe?

MultCloud FTP to FTP transfer uses 256-bit AES encrypts data transfer to prevent theft, OAuth authorizes cloud access without storing passwords, and GDPR ensures personal data privacy and legal compliance. We do not actively download your files in any circumstances.

Q5: What is the difference between FTP transfer and FTP sync?

FTP transfer is a one-time operation that copies or moves files from one server to another. FTP sync creates an ongoing connection that automatically updates changes between locations, making it ideal for keeping files consistent without repeating manual transfers.

Q6: Can I schedule FTP to FTP transfers automatically?

Yes. Many FTP transfer tools, including MultCloud, allow you to schedule transfers to run automatically on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Scheduled tasks help move new or updated files without manual effort, making regular backups and server migrations much more efficient.