Transferring Files Between Computers

Sending files to RealVNC Server

Watch the video:

1. Click the RealVNC Viewer File Transfer  toolbar button. The File Transfer dialog opens:
   

2. Click the Send files button. The Send Files dialog opens.

3. Select a file or folder. To select multiple files and/or folders, hold down the SHIFT key.
   *Under Windows, you cannot directly select a folder. Instead, double-click to open that folder, then click Use Entire Folder. To select multiple folders, open the parent folder and click Use Entire Folder. Note this means other files and folders in the parent folder will also be transferred.

4. Click Open (OK under Linux). The File Transfer dialog opens on the RealVNC Server computer:
   

   The most recent file transfer operation is highlighted. You can check its status, or pause or stop the transfer if it takes more than a few seconds.

   By default, files are downloaded to the desktop (Downloads folder under macOS). To change this for future file transfer operations, select an option from the Fetch files to dropdown at the bottom of the File Transfer dialog. Note you must have write permissions for the folder you choose. Alternatively, you can ask to be prompted each time.

Fetching files from RealVNC Server

Watch the video:

Note that if you fetch files, they will also be published to all other RealVNC Viewer desktop users connected at the same time as you:

1. In the RealVNC Viewer window, right-click the RealVNC Server icon  (typically shaded black) and, from the shortcut menu, select File Transfer. The File Transfer dialog opens:
   

2. Click the Send files button. The Send Files dialog opens.

3. Select a file or folder. To select multiple files and/or folders, hold down the SHIFT key.
   *Under Windows, you cannot directly select a folder. Instead, double-click to open that folder, then click Use Entire Folder. To select multiple folders, open the parent folder and click Use Entire Folder. Note this means other files and/or folders in the parent folder will also be transferred.

4. Click Open (OK under Linux). The File Transfer dialog opens on your computer:
   

   The most recent file transfer operation is highlighted. You can check its status, or pause or stop the transfer if it takes more than a few seconds.

   By default, files are downloaded to your desktop (Downloads folder under macOS). To change this for future file transfer operations, select an option from the Fetch files to dropdown at the bottom of the File Transfer dialog. Note you must have write permissions for the folder you choose. Alternatively, you can ask to be prompted each time.

Troubleshooting file transfer

If file transfer does not work, check the following:

1. Check that your subscription includes File Transfer. You can check this at the top of this page.
2. Has RealVNC Server been configured to disable file transfer? If you have access, check global permissions on the RealVNC Server Options > Users & Permissions page. 
3. Has RealVNC Server been configured to prevent you transferring files? If you have access, check permissions for the user you are registered as on the RealVNC Server Options > Users & Permissions page.