Need to copy files to a headless Raspberry Pi over SSH? The scp command lets you securely transfer files and folders between machines on Linux. This guide covers local↔remote and remote↔remote copies, plus useful flags.

What is the scp command?

scp (secure copy) securely transfers files over an SSH connection. It uses the same authentication and encryption as SSH.

In plain terms, scp is like copying a file from one folder to another, except the other “folder” is a computer you can reach over SSH. It’s simple, fast to use for everyday tasks, and available on most Linux and macOS systems by default.

  • What you might use it for: sending project files to a server, backing up a directory, fetching logs, or moving a build artifact to a remote host.
  • Why people choose it: straightforward commands, secure by default, no extra setup when SSH already works.

Note: In modern OpenSSH releases, scp uses the SFTP protocol under the hood by default for safer behavior. You can force legacy scp/rcp behavior with -O if needed.

Cheat sheet

  • Local → Remote: scp ./file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Remote → Local: scp user@host:/path/file.zip ./
  • Remote → Remote: scp user1@host1:/path/file.zip user2@host2:/dest/
  • Copy directory: scp -r ./dir user@host:/dest/
  • Custom port: scp -P 2222 file.zip user@host:/path/
  • SSH key: scp -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Compression: scp -C file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Preserve times/modes: scp -p file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Limit bandwidth (Kb/s): scp -l 5000 file.zip user@host:/path/

Copy files with scp

SCP lets you securely transfer files between a local machine and a remote server, or even between two remote servers.

How do I copy a file from local to remote?

scp /path/to/local/file.zip username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/folder
  • /path/to/local/file.zip: local file to copy
  • username: your username on the remote server
  • remote_server: hostname or IP address
  • /path/to/destination/folder: destination path on the remote server

You will be prompted for the remote user password unless using SSH keys.

How do I copy a file from remote to local?

scp username@remote_server:/path/to/remote/file.zip /path/to/local/folder
  • username: your username on the remote server
  • remote_server: hostname or IP address of the remote server
  • /path/to/remote/file.zip: the remote file you want to copy
  • /path/to/local/folder: the local destination folder (use . for current directory)

This downloads the file from the remote server to your local machine. You’ll be prompted for the remote user’s password unless using SSH keys.

How do I copy from one remote server to another?

scp username1@remote_server1:/path/to/remote/file.zip username2@remote_server2:/path/to/destination/folder
  • username1@remote_server1:/path/to/remote/file.zip: source file on the first server
  • username2@remote_server2:/path/to/destination/folder: destination folder on the second server

The transfer happens directly between the two servers. You need SSH access to both, and you may be prompted for credentials for each host.

Copy folders with scp

You can copy an entire directory recursively.

Copy a folder from local to remote

scp -r /path/to/local/folder username@remote_server:/path/to/destination/folder
  • -r: recursively copy the folder and its contents

Copy a folder from remote to local

scp -r username@remote_server:/path/to/remote/folder /path/to/local/folder
  • -r: copy the folder and all its contents
  • username/remote_server: the remote account and host
  • /path/to/remote/folder: the remote directory to download
  • /path/to/local/folder: the local destination directory

This downloads the entire directory from the remote server to the local folder.

Copy a folder between two remote servers

scp -r username1@remote_server1:/path/to/remote/folder username2@remote_server2:/path/to/remote/folder
  • -r: copy the folder and all its contents
  • username1@remote_server1:/path/to/remote/folder: source directory on the first server
  • username2@remote_server2:/path/to/remote/folder: destination directory on the second server

The directory is copied server‑to‑server. Ensure you have access to both servers; you may be prompted to authenticate on each.

Useful options and tips

  • Use a custom port (uppercase P):
    scp -P 2222 file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Use an SSH key (identity file):
    scp -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Enable compression (helpful over slow links):
    scp -C file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Preserve timestamps and modes:
    scp -p file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Limit bandwidth (Kb/s):
    scp -l 5000 file.zip user@host:/path/
  • Quote paths with spaces:
    scp "My File.zip" user@host:"/path with space/"

Install scp on Ubuntu

scp is included with the OpenSSH client on Ubuntu. If it’s missing:

  1. Open a terminal
  2. Update package list
    sudo apt update
  3. Install OpenSSH client
    sudo apt install openssh-client
  4. Verify installation
    command -v scp && ssh -V

Common errors and fixes

  • Permission denied (publickey): ensure your private key permissions are strict:
    chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_*
  • Connection times out or refused: check firewall/security groups and confirm the SSH port, then use -P PORT.
  • Host key verification failed: verify the server’s fingerprint and update ~/.ssh/known_hosts if the server legitimately changed (e.g., ssh-keygen -R host && ssh host).

References