How to copy a directory over SSH (scp -r, rsync, sftp)

How to copy a directory over SSH

scp won't copy a folder unless you tell it to recurse — add -r:

scp -r ./myfolder user@host:/remote/path/

That copies the whole directory tree. For large or repeated transfers, rsync is better (it resumes and skips unchanged files), and on mobile a SFTP app does it with a tap. Here's each, and the common errors.

scp -r — the direct way

# local folder → server
scp -r ./project user@host:/var/www/

# server folder → local
scp -r user@host:/var/log/nginx ./logs

# non-default port (note: capital -P)
scp -P 2222 -r ./project user@host:/var/www/

The catch most people hit: scp uses a capital -P for the port (lowercase -p preserves timestamps). Mixing them up is the usual "scp not working" cause.

rsync — better for big or repeated copies

For anything large, syncing, or run more than once, use rsync — it only transfers what changed and resumes if interrupted:

rsync -avz ./project/ user@host:/var/www/project/

# with a non-default port or a specific key:
rsync -avz -e "ssh -p 2222 -i ~/.ssh/mykey" ./project/ user@host:/var/www/project/

-a preserves permissions and recurses, -v is verbose, -z compresses. Note the trailing slash on the source (project/) — it copies the contents; without it you copy the folder itself. (To use a specific key with rsync, see use a specific SSH key.)

sftp — interactive, and get -r

If you prefer browsing, sftp downloads a directory with get -r:

sftp user@host
sftp> get -r /remote/folder

More on the three tools and when to use each: transfer files over SSH.

Common errors

• "not a regular file" / nothing copied — you forgot -r on a directory.
• Wrong port / connection refused — use -P (capital) with scp; check the port.
• Permission denied — you can't write to the destination path, or key auth failed (publickey guide).

Copying folders from a phone

Typing scp -r with two remote paths on a touch keyboard is exactly the kind of thing mobile makes painful. A SFTP-capable client turns it into browsing: open the server's filesystem, pick a folder, download or upload it. TermAI's SFTP lets you browse, transfer, and even edit files on the server directly; for a scripted copy, the AI assistant will write the right scp -r or rsync command for you to review.

FAQ

How do I scp a directory?
Add -r to recurse: scp -r ./folder user@host:/path/. For a non-default port use a capital -P.

Why won't scp copy my folder?
Without -r, scp refuses directories ("not a regular file"). Add -r. Also check you used capital -P for the port.

scp or rsync for a directory?
scp -r for a one-off small copy; rsync for anything large, repeated, or that might be interrupted — it resumes and skips unchanged files.

How do I download a directory with sftp?
Connect with sftp user@host, then run get -r /remote/folder.

Quick Facts

• scp a folder: scp -r ./folder user@host:/path/ (the -r is required)
• Port: scp uses capital -P (lowercase -p = preserve times)
• Large/repeated: rsync -avz src/ user@host:/dest/ — resumes, skips unchanged
• sftp: get -r /remote/folder
• Mobile: browse and transfer over SFTP instead of typing paths