🍴 Forked & Modernized from Natizyskunk/vscode-sftp, originally based on the abandoned liximomo/vscode-sftp. Updated dependencies, new features, and full compatibility with the latest VS Code APIs.

⚡ Jump to Backup Setup →

✨ Features · ⚡ Quick Start · 🔧 Config Examples · 🔐 Security · 🐛 Debug · ❓ FAQ

Grab it from the VS Code Marketplace or install the .vsix from Releases.

Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) and run:

SFTP: Config

A sftp.json file is created under .vscode. Fill in your server details:

{
  "name": "My Server",
  "host": "example.com",
  "protocol": "sftp",
  "port": 22,
  "username": "root",
  "remotePath": "/var/www/html",
  "uploadOnSave": true
}

💡 No password? Leave "password" out (or set it to null) — you'll be prompted once and can save it securely to your OS keychain. See 🔐 Security.

Right-click any file or folder in the Explorer for quick upload / download / diff options.

Switch between environments on the fly:

{
  "username": "deploy",
  "remotePath": "/app",
  "profiles": {
    "dev": { "host": "dev.example.com", "uploadOnSave": true },
    "prod": { "host": "prod.example.com", "uploadOnSave": false }
  },
  "defaultProfile": "dev"
}

Use SFTP: Set Profile to switch.

Sync different parts of your project to different places:

[
  {
    "name": "Frontend",
    "context": "client/dist",
    "host": "cdn.example.com",
    "remotePath": "/static"
  },
  {
    "name": "Backend",
    "context": "server",
    "host": "api.example.com",
    "remotePath": "/var/api"
  }
]

Reach a server through a bastion host:

{
  "name": "Target",
  "host": "bastion.example.com",
  "username": "jumpuser",
  "privateKeyPath": "~/.ssh/id_rsa",
  "hop": {
    "host": "target.internal",
    "username": "appuser",
    "privateKeyPath": "~/.ssh/id_rsa"
  }
}

📖 For the full list of options check the Wiki.

SFTP Neo stores passwords & passphrases in your OS credential store (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager, Linux libsecret) via VS Code's Secret Storage API — so your sftp.json stays clean and commit-safe.

How to use it:

1. Set "password": null (or omit it) in sftp.json:

   {
     "host": "example.com",
     "username": "root",
     "password": null,
     "remotePath": "/var/www"
   }

2. Connect — you'll be prompted for the password.
3. Click "Save password to Secret Storage".
4. Future connections are automatic & encrypted.

The same works for private key passphrase.

🧹 Manage saved credentials anytime with SFTP: Delete Saved Password.

Browse your remote server directly in the VS Code sidebar.

Open it via:

• Command Palette → View: Show SFTP
• Or click the SFTP icon in the Activity Bar

Select multiple files with Ctrl/Shift to download or upload in batches.

Before any remote file is overwritten by an upload or sync-to-remote operation, SFTP Neo automatically creates a timestamped backup copy on the server. Browse, restore, or delete backup versions without leaving VS Code.

Before Upload                    After Upload
─────────────────                ─────────────────
remote/index.php                 remote/index.php  ← new content
                                 remote/.vsftp-backup/
                                   └─ index.php.20260612194215007.bak  ← old content

Add the backup object to your .vscode/sftp.json:

{
  "name": "Production",
  "host": "example.com",
  "protocol": "sftp",
  "port": 22,
  "username": "root",
  "remotePath": "/var/www/html",
  "uploadOnSave": true,
  "backup": {
    "enabled": true,
    "folder": ".vsftp-backup",
    "versions": 5
  }
}

💡 Tip: The backup folder is automatically excluded from sync operations and the Remote Explorer — you never have to worry about backups being uploaded or cluttering your file tree.

1. Enable backups in your sftp.json (see configuration above).
2. Upload or sync a file — a backup is created automatically before the overwrite.
3. Click any file in the Remote Explorer panel.
4. The Remote Backups panel updates to show all backup versions for that file, sorted newest → oldest.

• Upload never blocked: If a backup fails for any reason, the upload still proceeds. Your code always goes live.
• Auto-pruning: Old backups beyond your versions limit are cleaned up automatically after each upload.
• No local clutter: Backups live on the remote server, not your machine. The backup folder is invisible to sync.
• Context-aware: The panel only shows backups for the file you have selected in Remote Explorer.

Need to troubleshoot?

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+, / Cmd+,).
2. Search for sftp.debug and set it to true.
3. Reload VS Code.
4. View logs in Output → SFTP.

See FAQ.md for common questions and solutions.