How to Connect to Your VPS as Root with SSH (Windows, macOS, Linux, PuTTY)

SSH (Secure Shell) is how you control a Linux VPS: you type commands on your own computer and they run on the server over an encrypted connection. This guide covers the first login as root and everyday connections afterwards.

Connecting to StackCP hosting instead of a VPS? Use our Cloud Hosting guides: SSH on a Mac or Linux computer and SSH on Windows with a key.

Which VPS is this for? These steps are for an Unmanaged VPS, where you log in as root and look after the server yourself. On a Managed VPS we take care of the operating system and server software, and you manage your websites in StackCP instead.

What you need

Setting	Value
Host	Your VPS IP address (client area → Services → your VPS)
Port	`22`, unless you changed it
Username	`root` for the first login (later, your own sudo user)
Password or key	The password from your client area or welcome email, or your SSH key once set up

Windows 10 and 11 (built-in OpenSSH)

Modern Windows already includes an SSH client, so you do not need to install anything.

Right-click the Start button and open Terminal (or Windows PowerShell).

Type the command below with your own IP and press Enter:

ssh [email protected]

The first time, you see The authenticity of host … can't be established. Type yes and press Enter. Your computer remembers the server from now on.
Paste the password with a right-click (or Ctrl+Shift+V) and press Enter. The cursor does not move while you type a password.
You are in when the prompt changes to something like root@server1:~#.

If Windows says ssh is not recognised, open Settings → System → Optional features and add OpenSSH Client.

Windows with PuTTY

Install PuTTY and open it.
In Host Name (or IP address) enter your VPS IP. Leave Port at 22 and Connection type on SSH.
Type a name under Saved Sessions (for example My VPS) and click Save, so next time you just double-click it.
Click Open. On the security alert about the host key, click Accept.
At login as: type root, press Enter, then right-click to paste the password and press Enter.

macOS and Linux

Open Terminal (on a Mac: Applications → Utilities → Terminal) and run:

ssh [email protected]

Answer yes to the fingerprint question and enter the password. To paste on a Mac, use Cmd+V.

Connecting on a different port or with a key

# custom SSH port
ssh -p 2222 [email protected]

# a specific private key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 [email protected]

In PuTTY, change the Port field, and load a .ppk key under Connection → SSH → Auth → Credentials.

Save a shortcut with an SSH config file

Instead of remembering IPs and ports, create the file ~/.ssh/config (on Windows: C:\Users\YourName\.ssh\config, no file extension):

Host myvps
    HostName 203.0.113.10
    User deploy
    Port 22
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Now ssh myvps is all you need, and tools like scp and VS Code Remote-SSH understand the same name.

Copying files to and from the VPS

Command line: scp backup.zip [email protected]:/root/ uploads a file; swap the two arguments to download.
Graphical: use an SFTP client such as FileZilla or WinSCP with protocol SFTP, your VPS IP, port 22 and the same username and password or key. There is no FTP server on a new VPS, and you do not need one.

Common errors and fixes

Message	What it means and what to do
`Connection timed out`	Nothing answered. Check the IP, make sure the VPS is running and Active in your client area, and check whether your firewall or Fail2ban blocked your IP. Try from mobile data to rule out your own network.
`Connection refused`	The server answered but SSH is not listening on that port. You may have changed the port, or the SSH service is stopped.
`Permission denied (publickey)`	Password login is disabled on the server. Connect with your key, or use the console to re-enable passwords.
`Permission denied, please try again`	Wrong password, or root login has been disabled. Log in with your sudo user instead.
`REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED`	Expected after a reinstall. Run `ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.10` and connect again. If you did not reinstall, stop and contact us.
`Too many authentication failures`	Your computer offered too many keys. Add `-o IdentitiesOnly=yes -i path/to/key`.

If you cannot connect at all, see What to Do If Your VPS Is Unreachable or You Are Locked Out.

Need help?

If something about the VPS itself is not working (it won't start, you can't reach it, or you need console access, an upgrade or a reinstall), open a support ticket from your client area or message us on WhatsApp at 01818160926. Include your VPS IP address and what you have already tried so we can help faster.

FimuroHost Team

Technical Writer