WinSCP

ApplicationMartin Přikryl

Also called win scp, winscp client

Martin PřikrylProductivity

Martin Přikryl's SFTP, SCP, and FTP GUI for Windows. The process is WinSCP.exe. It is often paired with PuTTY. It is not FileZilla.

What you need to know

WinSCP is WinSCP.exe. FileZilla is a different GUI.

WinSCP is Martin Přikryl's SFTP and SCP client. It often opens PuTTY for a shell. FileZilla is a separate FTP and SFTP project. Uninstalling one does not remove the other.

What is it?: SFTP and SCP GUI for Windows
Same as FileZilla?: No. Different client and sites
Pairs with PuTTY?: Yes. Terminal and Pageant

Feex says

If WinSCP asks for a host key, I treat it like PuTTY's warning. I do not repair FileZilla to fix a WinSCP bookmark. Those are different clients.

What is WinSCP?

WinSCP is a Windows file-transfer GUI for SFTP, SCP, FTP, and WebDAV. FileZilla is another GUI. PuTTY is the terminal often sitting beside it.

If you have never used it

If you need to copy files over SSH on Windows, WinSCP is the usual GUI. Download it from winscp.net/eng/download.php. It speaks SFTP and SCP. FileZilla is a different FTP and SFTP client. WinSCP can hand a session to PuTTY. That does not make it FileZilla.

What is it used for?

Copy files over SFTP or SCP

The two-pane window. FileZilla can also do SFTP. The site manager and PuTTY hook are WinSCP's story.

Open a PuTTY terminal

WinSCP can launch putty.exe with the same host. FileZilla does not own that pairing.

Use Pageant keys

SSH keys from PuTTY's agent. A FileZilla site profile is a different store.

Who is it for?

Admins who already have PuTTY sessions
People who need SFTP without living in scp.exe
Anyone who downloaded FileZilla when the shop standard is WinSCP

Current status

WinSCP (2000) is a current sftp and scp client from Martin Přikryl. The vendor still points Windows users at https://winscp.net/eng/download.php.

How old is it?

Martin Přikryl released WinSCP in 2000. It grew up next to PuTTY. Current Windows builds still update. An old 4.x portable from a forum is the wrong place.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

WinSCP installer

Portable

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per WinSCP
RAM	The client is small. Transfers follow the files you copy

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
WinSCP.exe	WinSCP file window

Startup components

WinSCP does not need a tray. You can pin a saved site. That is not a Windows service.

File locations

Common WinSCP locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\

File formats

SFTPSCPPPK

Common problems

People install FileZilla for an SFTP-only shop

WinSCP is the client many Windows admins already bookmarked. FileZilla can speak SFTP too. The saved sites do not transfer.

Host key or key file mismatch

PPK files belong to PuTTY and WinSCP. An OpenSSH id_rsa may need conversion. That is not a FileZilla filter problem.

Getting unstuck

Install from winscp.net/eng/download.php

A WinSCP helper toolbar bundle is junk. Martin Přikryl hosts the real installer.

Check stored sites inside WinSCP, not FileZilla

The two clients do not share site managers.

If the shell button fails, confirm PuTTY is installed

WinSCP looks for putty.exe. Windows Terminal will not satisfy that hook.

Alternatives

FileZilla for a different FTP and SFTP GUI. pscp.exe from the PuTTY suite if you only need a command. OpenSSH scp in Windows Terminal.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	winscp.net/eng/download.php Official installer or vendor page
Help	winscp.net/eng/docs/ Vendor support
Official site	winscp.net/ Start here, not a random exe host
Integration with PuTTY	winscp.net/eng/docs/integration_putty How WinSCP opens PuTTY and Pageant

Related hardware

The GUI is light. Large transfers follow the network, not the GPU.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

WinSCP official site · Vendor product page
WinSCP help · Vendor support
WinSCP docs · Official client documentation
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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