Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Getting "Error code: 4 (Failure)" when uploading a file to CentOS using WinSCP

WinSCP error code 4: Failure when uploading a file to CentOS.

Quick Answer: Check if the target directory exists and has enough space. Ensure that the user disk quota is not exceeded.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. ⚠️ Common Causes
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

Error code: 4, or 'Failure', is displayed when uploading a file to a CentOS server using WinSCP. This error message can be frustrating for users who have been using the software regularly without any issues.

The sudden appearance of this error indicates that there may be an issue with the file system, directory structure, or user permissions on the CentOS server.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • One possible reason for Error code: 4 is when a file is uploaded to a full filesystem (HDD). When the available disk space is low, WinSCP cannot complete the upload operation and displays the 'Failure' error message. To resolve this issue, check the available disk space on the CentOS server and free up enough space to allow for the upload.
  • Another possible reason for Error code: 4 is when a user exceeds their disk quota. If the user's disk quota has been exceeded, WinSCP will not be able to complete the upload operation and display the 'Failure' error message. To resolve this issue, contact the system administrator to increase the user's disk quota or remove files that are causing the quota to be exceeded.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Checking Disk Space

  1. Step 1: Open a terminal on the CentOS server and run the command `df -h` to check the available disk space. This will display information about the current disk usage, including the amount of free space available.
  2. Step 2: Check the output of the `df -h` command to ensure that there is enough free space to allow for the upload operation. If the available disk space is low, consider freeing up some space by deleting unnecessary files or expanding the file system.
  3. Step 3: Run the command `sudo df -k` to view the amount of free space in kilobytes. Compare this value to the total amount of disk space to determine if there are any issues with disk usage.

Checking User Disk Quota

  1. Step 1: Contact the system administrator and request an increase in your user's disk quota. Provide information about the file you are trying to upload, including its size and location.
  2. Step 2: If the system administrator is unable to increase your disk quota, ask if there are any alternative solutions that can be implemented, such as removing files or reorganizing the directory structure.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'Error code: 4' issue when uploading a file to a CentOS server using WinSCP, check the available disk space on the server and ensure that there is enough free space to allow for the upload operation. Additionally, verify that your user's disk quota has not been exceeded. If issues persist, contact the system administrator for further assistance.

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