Directories Page (Advanced Site Settings dialog)

Cache visited remote directories, Cache directory changes and Permanent cache checkboxes control directory cache.

Note that when Cache visited remote directories is turned off, remote panel will not get refreshed after background transfer completes.

When WinSCP reads directory content, it by default also resolves any symbolic links (symlinks) it finds. Particularly to learn if they point to file or directory. If a directory contains too many symbolic links, it can slow down opening the directory. You may disable the feature by unticking Resolve symbolic links to speed it up. You may also use the option when WinSCP hangs when resolving cyclic links. While WinSCP detects most cyclic links, it can still hang when it encounters more complex symbolic link “systems”. Note that when the resolving is disabled, creating links is effectively disabled too. Also when the resolving is disabled or not supported, double-clicking on any remote file will be interpreted as an attempt to open the directory with the same name.1 This allows opening links pointing to directories even when WinSCP does not know they are links.

Check the Follow symbolic links to directories to have WinSCP follow symbolic links to directories, when operating with remote files (e.g. while downloading or deleting). The option is not available with WebDAV and S3 protocols.

Read more about Login dialog and Advanced Site Settings dialog.