/usr/bin/sftp --help — Chainguard OS Manuals

From openssh-client 10.6_p2-r0 (os), captured 2026-11-10 by running sftp --help (exit 1). permalink

unknown option -- -
usage: sftp [-46AaCfNpqrv] [-B buffer_size] [-b batchfile] [-c cipher]
          [-D sftp_server_command] [-F ssh_config] [-i identity_file]
          [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option] [-P port]
          [-R num_requests] [-S program] [-s subsystem | sftp_server]
          [-X sftp_option] destination

Options (25)

Option	Description	Source
`-4`	Forces sftp to use IPv4 addresses only.	man
`-6`	Forces sftp to use IPv6 addresses only.	man
`-A`	Allows forwarding of ssh-agent(1) to the remote system.	man
`-a`	Attempt to continue interrupted transfers rather than overwriting existing partial or complete copies of files.	man
`-B` buffer_size	Specify the size of the buffer that sftp uses when transferring files.	man
`-b` batchfile	Batch mode reads a series of commands from an input batchfile instead of stdin.	man
`-C`	Enables compression (via ssh's -C flag).	man
`-c` cipher	Selects the cipher to use for encrypting the data transfers.	man
`-D` sftp_server_command	Connect directly to a local sftp server (rather than via ssh(1)).	man
`-F` ssh_config	Specifies an alternative per-user configuration file for ssh(1).	man
`-f`	Requests that files be flushed to disk immediately after transfer.	man
`-i` identity_file	Selects the file from which the identity (private key) for public key authentication is read.	man
`-J` destination	Connect to the target host by first making an sftp connection to the jump host described by destination and then establishing a TCP forwarding to the ultimate destination from there.	man
`-l` limit	Limits the used bandwidth, specified in Kbit/s.	man
`-N`	Disables quiet mode, e.g. to override the implicit quiet mode set by the -b flag.	man
`-o` ssh_option	Can be used to pass options to ssh in the format used in ssh_config(5).	man
`-P` port	Specifies the port to connect to on the remote host.	man
`-p`	Preserves modification times, access times, and modes from the original files transferred.	man
`-q`	Quiet mode: disables the progress meter as well as warning and diagnostic messages from ssh(1).	man
`-R` num_requests	Specify how many requests may be outstanding at any one time.	man
`-r`	Recursively copy entire directories when uploading and downloading.	man
`-S` program	Name of the program to use for the encrypted connection.	man
`-s` subsystem	Specifies the SSH2 subsystem or the path for an sftp server on the remote host.	man
`-v`	Raise logging level.	man
`-X` sftp_option	Specify an option that controls aspects of SFTP protocol behaviour.	man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.