Upload Files to Windows Instances from Windows or macOS - Elastic Compute Service

You can transfer files to a Windows Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance using the built-in Remote Desktop feature in Windows or a dedicated application (Windows APP) for macOS. This guide will walk you through the process of transferring files using both methods.

Tool introduction

Windows Remote Desktop Connection MSTSC (Local for Windows)
Windows Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC) is a feature of the Windows operating system that allows you to transfer files directly from a local Windows system to a Windows ECS instance.
Limits
Local system limits
Instance network limits
File size limits
Transfer speed limits
File quantity limits
Windows only
Requires a public IP or EIP
None
None
None
Windows APP (Local for macOS)
Windows APP is a Microsoft-designed remote connection tool for the Windows operating system. Once installed on a local macOS system, it enables file transfers to a Windows ECS instance.
Limits
Local system limits
Instance network limits
File size limits
Transfer speed limits
File quantity limits
macOS
Requires a public IP or EIP
None
None
None

Preparations

Check the instance status: Only instances in the Running state support the operations described in this topic.
Check the running status of the instance
The status of the instance can be viewed on the Instance page in the ECS console. The instance should be in the Running state, as shown below:
For more information, please refer to the referenced document.
Obtain the public IP address of the instance: The public IP of the instance is required to connect to it for the operations described in this topic.
Obtain the public IP information of the instance
The public IP address of the instance can be found on the Instance page in the ECS console, as illustrated below:
For more information, please refer to the referenced document. To learn how to enable a public network, consult the referenced document.

Check the security group of the instance: Ensure the security group allows the connection port for the RDP service (default is 3389) when using Remote Desktop Connection or Windows APP.

Security group settings required for the operations described in this topic

File transfers using Remote Desktop Connection or Windows APP are based on the RDP protocol. To use these tools, open the RDP service port (default is 3389) in the inbound direction of the security group associated with the instance. For instructions on configuring security group rules, see adding security group rules.

Authorization policy	Priority	Protocol type	Port range	Authorization object
Allow	1	Custom TCP	Configure as your RDP service port (default is 3389).	Configure as the public address or IP address segment of your local computer. Warning Using `0.0.0.0/0` means that all IP addresses can connect to the remote service port. This configuration poses a security threat, so use it with caution. You can obtain your local IP address through `https://cip.cc/`.

For instance, if the local computer IP is 118.xxx.xxx.xx8, the following configuration is required.

Transfer files using Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC) on local Windows

If your local host is running the Windows operating system, you can utilize the built-in Remote Desktop Connection tool MSTSC (Microsoft Terminal Services Client) to transfer local files to the Windows ECS instance.

Important

To increase transfer efficiency, consider compressing large files or multiple files into a compressed package before uploading.

Step 1: Connect to the instance using Remote Desktop and redirect the local drive

Press the composite key Win+R, type mstsc, and press Enter to launch Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC).
In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, follow these steps to connect to the Windows ECS instance:
1. Click Show Options.
2. On the General tab, enter the following:
  - Computer (C): The public or EIP address of the Windows ECS instance.
  - Username: The username, typically Administrator by default.
3. On the Local Resources tab, select Clipboard and click More.
4. In Drives, select the drive where the files are stored and click OK.
5. Click Connect to access the Windows ECS instance's remote desktop.

Step 2: Upload or download files

Once connected, locate your local computer's disk drive in This PC on the Windows instance. You can then upload or download files by moving them between this directory and the instance.

Access the local computer's disk mapped on the instance by double-clicking it.
Upload files to the ECS instance
For instance, to upload files to the instance's desktop. You can also use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for copying between the local Windows computer and the instance.
Download files from the ECS instance to the local computer
For instance, to download files from the instance's desktop. You can also use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for copying between the local Windows computer and the instance.

Transfer files using Windows APP on local macOS

If you are using a macOS system on your local machine, you can utilize Windows APP to establish a remote connection to a Windows cloud server instance and transfer files. This topic specifically illustrates the use of Windows APP on macOS.

Important

To improve transfer efficiency, compress large or multiple files into a single package before uploading.

Step 1: Download and install Windows APP

You can download and install the Windows APP by clicking on the provided links for the Windows APP at the Mac App Store.

Step 2: Connect to the instance

Open Windows APP and click on the > Add PC option located in the upper right corner.
On the Add PC page, enter the IP address of the instance you want to connect to.
Redirect a folder to share with the ECS instance. This allows you to access files within this folder from the instance. Follow these steps:
This step effectively shares the folder with the ECS instance you want to connect to, allowing you to access the files within it from the ECS instance. The procedure is as follows:
Click Folders, select Redirect Folders, and then click . Follow the prompts to add the folders you want to redirect. The redirected folders will appear in the list as shown below.
This guide uses the macOS Documents (/Users/<username>/Documents) folder as an example.
Click the Add button to finish adding the ECS instance.
Locate the newly added ECS instance on the device page, double-click it, and when prompted by the interface, input the Username and Password for the instance. Then, press the Continue button to establish a connection. Once connected, you will access the Windows instance's system desktop.

Step 3: Upload and download files

After connecting to the instance, locate the disk drive of your local computer in This PC on the Windows instance. You can then upload or download files by moving them between this directory and the instance.

Access the local computer's disk mapped on the instance by double-clicking it.
Upload files to the ECS instance
For instance, to upload files to the instance's desktop. You can also use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for copying between the local macOS computer and the instance.
After this operation, the file upload is complete.
Download files from the ECS instance to the local computer
For instance, to download files from the instance's desktop. You can also use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for copying between the local macOS computer and the instance.
After this operation, the downloaded file will be available in the locally mapped folder.

References

After uploading files to a Windows ECS instance, consider backing up important files. For instructions, see Create a snapshot.
You can also use Object Storage Service (OSS) for file storage and management. For more details, see Get started by using the OSS console.

Local system limits	Instance network limits	File size limits	Transfer speed limits	File quantity limits
Windows only	Requires a public IP or EIP	None	None	None