FileZilla: How to copy files from one directory to another on the same server?

I want to copy files from one directory to another on the same server using FileZilla. Please guide me how can it be done?


FileZilla does not support duplication (copying) of remote files. Neither by drag&drop nor any other way (menu, keyboard shortcut).


One of the reasons is a lack of support for this operation in majority of the FTP and SFTP servers. There's actually no standard way to duplicate a remote file over FTP or SFTP protocol. Some FTP and SFTP servers support proprietary or non-standard extensions for this though.


Some FTP/SFTP clients do support remote file duplication. Either using the extension or via a temporary local copy of the remote file.

For example WinSCP SFTP/FTP client does support the duplication using both drag&drop and menu/keyboard command:

  • It supports the SITE CPFR/CPTO FTP extension (supported for example by ProFTPD mod_copy module)
  • It supports the copy-file SFTP extension (supported for example by ProFTPD/mod_sftp and Bitvise SFTP servers).
  • It falls back to automatic duplication via a local temporary copy, if the above extensions are not available.

(I'm the author of WinSCP)


Some mistake copy and move. Moving a file between two remote directories is widely supported by SFTP and FTP servers and clients. In FileZilla (or WinSCP), just drag the file between the folders to move it.


One obvious solution is to download the file to a temporary local directory and upload it to the target directory.

It's not always possible for you to write to the target directory if your account does not have write access. So "copying" to the target directory is not always possible.


It’s like this answer says: FTP simply doesn’t support remote copying. If only FTP access is available you’ll have to download the file and upload it again, to the desired location.