The network share (\\RECALBOX) is enough to copy games and bios files. But to reach files outside the share folder — recalbox-user-config.txt on the boot partition, a hidden file such as .emulationstation, a system file — you need an SFTP client.
Recalbox ships with an SSH server: every SFTP and SCP client works out of the box, with nothing to install on the Recalbox.
There is no FTP server on Recalbox. In your software, make sure you pick the SFTP protocol (SSH File Transfer Protocol), not FTP or FTPS.
| Protocol | SFTP |
| Host | recalbox (Windows), recalbox.local (macOS and Linux), or the IP address |
| Port | 22 |
| User | root |
| Password | recalboxroot by default |
To find the IP address: START → NETWORK SETTINGS, IP ADDRESS line.
If you changed the Recalbox
HOSTNAME, use that name. If you set a password while flashing or throughsystem.default_password, use that one — see Root command-line access.
| System | Recommended software |
|---|---|
| Windows | WinSCP — free, dual-pane, built-in editor |
| Windows (all-in-one alternative) | MobaXterm — SFTP and an SSH terminal in the same window, portable version available |
| macOS | Cyberduck or FileZilla |
| Linux | FileZilla, or simply sftp root@recalbox.local in a terminal |
File protocol = SFTP, Host name = recalbox, Port number = 22, User name = root, Password = recalboxroot.Save..., name the session (Recalbox), then OK.Login. A window may ask to add the host key to the cache: answer Yes.Your computer appears on the left, the Recalbox on the right; drag and drop works both ways.
Two time-saving settings:
.emulationstation or .p2k.cfg files): Options → Preferences → Panels → tick Show hidden files.Options → Preferences → Editors → Add and point to notepad++.exe.WinSCP also has a console (Console icon): handy for typing mount -o remount,rw /boot before editing a file on the boot partition.
📷 Screenshot to come:
sftp-winscp.png
MobaXterm combines file transfer and a terminal, which saves you from juggling two programs.
Session → SFTP.Remote host: your Recalbox name or IP address. Username: root. Confirm.You land in /recalbox/share/system by default. To also get a terminal, duplicate the session (right click → Duplicate session), then edit it (right click → Edit session) and pick SSH at the top of the window.
New connection (Cyberduck) or the site manager (FileZilla).SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), server: recalbox.local, port 22, user root, password recalboxroot.From a terminal, with no extra software:
sftp root@recalbox.local
scp mygame.zip root@recalbox.local:/recalbox/share/roms/snes/
| Path | Contents |
|---|---|
/recalbox/share/ |
All your content: roms, bios, saves, themes, system/recalbox.conf… |
/boot/ |
recalbox-boot.conf, recalbox-user-config.txt, config.txt |
/recalbox/share/system/logs/ |
The logs |
The share folder is described in detail in File management.
The
/bootand/partitions are mounted read-only. Before editing a file stored there, runmount -o remount,rw /bootfrom your SFTP client's console or over SSH — see Remounting a partition with write access.
No need for SFTP: the network share \\RECALBOX is open, password-free, and much faster for large transfers.