Question

Can't connect via sFTP (Filezilla), but can connect via SSH (Putty) using private key

Posted on March 3, 2025
DigitalOcean Droplets
Asked by Renato

Hello, I followed all instructions to generate public and private keys using Putty on Windows. I added my public key to the server via Digitalocean Control Panel >> Settings >> Security. I configured Putty to use my private key and I can connect successfully via Putty. But using the very same private key, same username, I can’t connect via sFTP using Filezilla:

Status:	Connecting to XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX...
Status:	Using username "XXXXXXXXX". 
Status:	Server refused our key 
Status:	Access denied 
Error:		Authentication failed.
Error:		Critical error: Could not connect to server
Status:	Disconnected from server

If I try to connect via Filezilla using the password of the user, I can connect successfully. But I’d rather use the private key, which is being refused on Filezilla but working just fine on Putty. The file path to the private key is correct on both Filezilla and Putty. What could possibly be wrong? I need help, please.

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KFSys

Site Moderator

• March 4, 2025

Heya,

In FileZilla, you can add the private key and connect that way. I think there was some bug if you are using the path rather than importing the private key in FileZilla directly.