How-to connect to iPhone via Wi-Fi using WinSCP

What is WinSCP?

WinSCP is an open source SFTP client and FTP client for Windows. Its main function is the secure file transfer between a local and a remote computer. Beyond this, WinSCP offers basic file manager functionality. It uses Secure Shell (SSH) and supports, in addition to Secure FTP, also legacy SCP protocol.

This tutorial will guide you how-to connect to iPhone via Wi-Fi using WinSCP.

What is the different between connecting via USB normally and Wi-Fi using WinSCP?

By connecting as usual method via USB, you will only see photos and videos on iPhone. But, when you are using WinSCP via Wi-fi to connect to the iPhone, you will be able to explore all iPhone (system) files intended for modifications, hacks, customization, and more advanced usage of iPhone.

Before start, you must have OpenSSH installed on the iPhone.

1. Download the latest version of WinSCP. If you already have WinSCP installed, skip this step.

2. Run WinSCP.

3. What should you fill in Host name field is your iPhone Wi-Fi IP address.
Go to Settings – Wi-Fi – and tap the right blue arrow in the next Wi-Fi name which your iPhone connected to. I set my IP address manually (Static), while yours can be Automatically (DHCP or BootIP).

Username: root
Password: alpine
The username & password are default.

4. When you connect to the iPhone for the first time, you will be asked about host key. Simply click Yes, hence you will not be asked again when connecting the same iPhone next time.

5. Once connected, you will see Library and Media directories on the right column, those are the contents of the iPhone. On the left column, you will see “My Documents” content of the computer.
The default directory on iPhone is: /private/var/root

6. To change directory, click root directory in the top menu and select desired directory. The top directory is (/ –called root).