Connect via SFTP
SFTP lets you drag and drop files into your server from your desktop. Much faster than the panel's file manager for bulk uploads.
What you'll need
Get your SFTP credentials
Open your server in the Pterodactyl panel. In the left sidebar, click Settings, then look for the SFTP Details section. You'll see:
- Server Address: usually the panel host or a dedicated SFTP hostname
- Username: a long string like
abc123.def456 - Port: usually 2022 (not the default 22)
Click the eye icon to reveal the password, or click Launch SFTP in the panel — it opens your default SFTP client with the credentials pre-filled.
Connect with FileZilla
- Open FileZilla. At the top you'll see four fields: Host, Username, Password, Port.
- Fill them in with the values from your panel Settings → SFTP Details.
- Click Quickconnect.
- First time connecting, you'll get a warning about an unknown host key. Click OK — it's safe to trust.
- Once connected, the right panel shows your server files. Drag and drop to upload.
Connect with WinSCP
- Open WinSCP. Choose New Site.
- File protocol: SFTP.
- Host name, port, username, password — same values as above.
- Click Save to keep it for next time, or just Login.
- Accept the host key warning on first connect.
Where do files go?
Your server files live in /home/container. Common folders:
plugins/— Minecraft plugins (Paper/Spigot)mods/— Minecraft mods (Forge/Fabric)world/— your main world folderserver.properties— main config file
Common problems
Connection refused / timeout
Check you're using port 2022, not 22. Also verify you copied the long username (not your panel login email).
Wrong password
Regenerate the SFTP password from the panel Settings. Copy-paste, don't retype — the strings are long and include symbols.
Files uploaded but not showing in game
You need to restart your server after uploading plugins or mods. New files are only loaded on startup.