---
title: "SFTP Explorer"
slug: "locating-sftp-files-sftp-folders"
updated: 2026-03-12T18:34:14Z
published: 2026-03-12T18:34:14Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# SFTP Explorer

The **Slate SFTP Explorer** is a browser-based client for interacting with the SFTP server attached to your Slate instance. The SFTP explorer can be used to perform certain operations supported by external clients such as [WinSCP](http://winscp.net/eng/index.php) or [FileZilla](http://filezilla-project.org/) directly in the Slate web application, including:

- creating, renaming, and deleting SFTP folders
- uploading, downloading, and deleting files stored in SFTP folders

## Permissions and considerations

To access SFTP Explorer, the user must have the [SFTP User Access](/v1/docs/provisioning-sftp-user-access) role.

By default, a Slate SFTP server contains two folders: `incoming` and `outgoing`. [Exported queries](/v1/docs/sending-scheduled-exports-to-a-remote-sftp-server) are stored in the `outgoing` folder.

> [!WARNING]
> 📝 In [test environments](/v1/docs/test-environments-test-environments), you won’t see the `incoming` folder until Slate picks up at least one file for import.

#### Limiting access to particular SFTP file paths

The SFTP Explorer is **path-restriction aware**. Add path restrictions to a user’s SFTP Access settings In **Database → User Permissions → Select a user → Roles.**

📖 **Further reading:**[Path restriction](/docs/provisioning-sftp-user-access#path-restriction1)

#### File viewing limit

​By default, the SFTP Explorer will show up to 500 files within a given directory, and while it is not possible to change this setting, the 500 file limit only applies to what is shown on the screen: you can search a directory that contains more than 500 files, but you will only see up to 500 matching results.

#### File expiration

The Slate SFTP server does not delete files when you hit a certain number of files. Instead, files older than 30 days may be removed from the SFTP servers at any time, as the SFTP servers are intended for file delivery only and not for permanent data storage.

## Using the SFTP Explorer

### Creating a folder

To create an SFTP folder in SFTP Explorer:

1. Go to **Database → SFTP Explorer**.
2. Select **New Folder.**![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-0MRIM6FB.png)
3. Enter a name, like `folder1`.
4. Select **Create**.

### Renaming or deleting a folder

1. Go to **Database → SFTP Explorer**.
2. Hover over a folder and select the **pencil icon:**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-HP1KWFSD.png)
3. Enter a new name.
4. Select **Save.**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-SH6USMB1.png)
5. To delete the folder, select **Delete.** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-OJ025SO9.png)

### Uploading a file

To upload a file to the SFTP server:

1. Go to **Database → SFTP Explorer**.
2. Navigate to a folder.
3. Select **Upload**. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-8UZYV4I4.png)
4. Select **Add Files.** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-X42HOQV5.png)
5. Use your file browser to select a file.
6. Select **Upload.** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/image-NBCAESEB.png)

## Using a third-party client

Third-party SFTP clients such as [WinSCP](http://winscp.net/eng/index.php) or [FileZilla](http://filezilla-project.org/) can be also used to perform the operations supported by the SFTP Explorer.

See [SFTP Connection Validation](/v1/docs/sftp-connection-validation) to connect to your Slate SFTP instance and the documentation for your third-party client.