Connect to your VPS over SSH from Windows

SSH (Secure Shell) is how you log in to your VPS and run commands on it. The connection is encrypted, so your password and everything you type are protected. This guide covers two ways to connect from Windows: the SSH client built into Windows 10 and 11, and PuTTY.

Before you start

You'll need your VPS IP address and root password. See Find your VPS login details and IP address.

Option 1: Windows Terminal or PowerShell (recommended)

Windows 10 and 11 include an SSH client, so there's nothing to install.

1. Open the Start menu, type Terminal (or PowerShell on older Windows 10) and open it.
2. Type the following, replacing YOUR_SERVER_IP with your VPS IP address, and press Enter:

   ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

3. The first time you connect, you'll see a message like "The authenticity of host ... can't be established" along with a key fingerprint. This is normal for a new server. Type yes and press Enter.
4. Type your root password and press Enter. Nothing appears on screen while you type the password. That's normal.

When you see a prompt such as root@server:~#, you're logged in. To disconnect, type exit.

Copy and paste: in Windows Terminal, select text to copy it, and right-click or press Ctrl+Shift+V to paste.

If Windows says ssh isn't recognised, open Settings → System → Optional features (or Apps → Optional features), click Add a feature, and install OpenSSH Client.

Option 2: PuTTY

PuTTY is a free, popular SSH app for Windows that can save your connection details.

1. Download PuTTY from its official website: chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty. The 64-bit Windows installer suits most computers.
2. Open PuTTY. In Host Name (or IP address), enter your VPS IP address. Leave Port as 22 and Connection type as SSH.
3. To save these details for next time, type a name under Saved Sessions, for example My VPS, and click Save.
4. Click Open.
5. The first time you connect, PuTTY shows a Security Alert about the server's host key. This is normal for a new server. Click Accept.
6. At login as:, type root and press Enter. Then type your password and press Enter. Nothing appears on screen while you type the password.

Copy and paste in PuTTY: selecting text copies it automatically, and a right-click pastes.

Other SSH apps

If you'd like something with more features, such as tabs, saved servers and a file browser, popular options include Termius and MobaXterm. They all connect the same way: your VPS IP address, port 22, username root and your password.

Next steps

• Once you're in, update your server first: apt update && apt upgrade on Ubuntu/Debian, or dnf upgrade on AlmaLinux/Rocky.
• For better security, set up SSH keys and log in without a password.
• To move files to and from your VPS, use an SFTP app such as WinSCP or FileZilla with the same login details.

Troubleshooting

• "Connection timed out": check the IP address, and that your VPS is Online on its management page in the client area.
• "Connection refused": the server is up, but SSH isn't accepting connections. Use Open Console on your VPS's management page to log in and check SSH is running.
• "Permission denied" or "Access denied": check the username is root and the password is correct. Passwords are case-sensitive.
• "REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED": this usually happens after you reinstall your VPS. Run ssh-keygen -R YOUR_SERVER_IP, then connect again.

Related guides

• Use the web console to access your VPS
• Manage your VPS from the client area

Need help?

Our Cloud VPS plans are self-managed, so you're responsible for installing, securing and maintaining the software on your server. If something on our side isn't working, such as the network, or your VPS won't boot, open a support ticket.