Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: Permission denied error while copying the files to another user directory using WINSCP?

Permission denied error while copying files to another user directory using WINSCP.

Quick Answer: Ask the target user to grant permission via SSH or by modifying the file system permissions.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The Permission denied error while copying files to another user directory using WINSCP occurs when the user trying to copy the file does not have the necessary permissions to access the target directory. This issue affects users who are trying to use WINSCP to transfer files between different user directories on a Linux machine.

This error can be frustrating for users as it prevents them from completing their file transfers and makes it difficult to manage their files effectively. However, with the right steps, you can resolve this issue by obtaining the necessary permissions or using an alternative method to copy the files.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the target directory has restrictive permissions set by the system administrator. When a user tries to access a directory without having the required permissions, they receive a Permission denied error.
  • An alternative reason for this error could be due to incorrect ownership or group settings of the target directory.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Obtaining Necessary Permissions

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Connect to the Linux machine using Putty as the user who owns the target directory. Use the command `sudo -u ` to switch to the desired user account.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Change the ownership of the target directory to the user who is trying to copy the file using the command `chown -R : /export/home/`. Replace ``, ``, and `` with the actual values.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Set the permissions of the target directory to allow read, write, and execute access for the desired user using the command `chmod -R /export/home/`. For example, if you want to set the permissions to `755` (owner has read, write, and execute; group has read and execute; others have read and execute), use the command `chmod -R 755 /export/home/`.

Using an Alternative Method

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Use the `scp` command to copy the file from your local machine to the target directory. For example, use the command `scp user2@:/export/home/user2/`. Replace `` with the actual path to the file you want to copy and `` with the hostname or IP address of the Linux machine.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: If you are unable to use the `scp` command, you can also use a graphical file manager like Nautilus or Dolphin to copy files between user directories.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Permission denied error while copying files to another user directory using WINSCP. Remember to obtain necessary permissions or use an alternative method if the target directory has restrictive settings.

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