Transferring Files Between Computers

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If your subscription includes the File Transfer feature, you can transfer files between RealVNC Viewer and RealVNC Server running on desktop platforms.

File transfer is not available when using RealVNC Connect for Mobile (Android and iOS).

Use Copy & Paste (Windows only)

The simplest and most convenient way to transfer files and folders between computers is to use copy and paste. It can be enabled or disabled using the ClipboardFT parameter in RealVNC Server.

Copy and paste file transfer is currently only available when both RealVNC Viewer and RealVNC Server computers are running Windows.

Sending files to RealVNC Server

Watch the video:

  1. Click the RealVNC Viewer File Transfer File Transfer icon.png toolbar button. The File Transfer dialog opens:
    File Transfer 3.png

  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:
    File Transfer 4.png

    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 RealVNC Server icon.png (typically shaded black) and, from the shortcut menu, select File Transfer. The File Transfer dialog opens:
    File Transfer 1.png

  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:
    File Transfer 2.png

    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.
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