How to connect to your hosting with SSH

This guide shows how to get a command line on your hosting, either in your browser through cPanel or from your own computer using SSH.

SSH is included on every plan. You don’t need it to run a normal website, but it’s handy for tools like WP-CLI, Git and Composer.

The easy way: Terminal in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel. See how to log in to cPanel.
2. In the Advanced section, click Terminal.
3. Read the warning and click I understand and want to proceed.

A command line opens in your browser, already logged in to your account. You start in your home folder. Type cd public_html to move to your website files.

From your own computer

You’ll need:

• Host: your domain name, or the server name in your welcome email
• Username: your cPanel username
• Password: your cPanel password, or an SSH key (see below)
• Port: use the SSH port given in your welcome email. If you can’t find it, open a ticket and we’ll tell you.

On a Mac, open Terminal from Applications, then Utilities. On Windows 10 or 11, open PowerShell from the Start menu. Both include SSH already.

Type the following, replacing the parts in capitals, and press Enter:

ssh -p PORT USERNAME@yourdomain.co.uk

The first time, you’ll be asked if you trust the server. Type yes and press Enter. Then enter your password. Nothing appears on screen while you type it; that is normal.

Type exit to disconnect.

Use an SSH key instead of a password

A key is safer than a password and saves you typing it each time.

1. In cPanel, open SSH Access in the Security section, then click Manage SSH Keys.
2. Click Generate a New Key. Give it a name, set a passphrase and click Generate Key.
3. Back on the key list, click Manage next to the public key and then Authorize.
4. Click View/Download next to the private key, then download it to your computer.
5. Connect with:

ssh -i path/to/your/key -p PORT USERNAME@yourdomain.co.uk

If you already have a key on your computer, use Import Key instead and paste in your public key, then authorise it. Wording in SSH Access may vary slightly.

If it doesn’t work

• Connection refused or timed out. Check the port is the one from your welcome email, not the default.
• Permission denied. Check the username is your cPanel username, not your email address. If you’re using a key, check it has been authorised in cPanel.
• It stopped working after several tries. Repeated failed logins can make our firewall block your IP address. Find your IP by searching “what is my IP” and include it in a ticket so we can unblock it.
• Mac says the key’s permissions are too open. Run chmod 600 path/to/your/key and try again.

Good to know

You can also use SFTP in FileZilla with the same details. See how to connect with FileZilla.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket and we’ll help.