SSH lets you work on your hosting account from a command line -- faster than clicking through cPanel for bulk jobs, and the only practical way to do some things, like importing a very large database. It's powerful, so it rewards a little care. This guide points you to the right starting place.
Getting connected
- In your browser: log in to cPanel and open Advanced > Terminal.
- From your computer: run
ssh username@example.comin Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Windows Terminal/PowerShell. PuTTY also works: use your domain as the host, port 22 and connection type SSH.
Full steps, including setting up an SSH key, are in How to Use SSH, SSH Keys and Terminal in cPanel.
What to learn first
- Moving around and looking at files --
pwd,ls -la,cd,cat,less. See Basic Linux Commands for Managing Your Website over SSH. - Editing a file --
nano filenameis the simplest editor on the server. Save with Ctrl+O, exit with Ctrl+X. - Managing WordPress -- WP-CLI (
wp) is installed. See How to Manage WordPress from the Command Line with WP-CLI.
Stay safe
- There's no undo.
rmdeletes immediately -- files removed over SSH don't go to File Manager's Trash. Make a backup before big changes. - Check where you are with
pwdbefore deleting or moving anything. - Use an SSH key instead of a password, and never share your private key.
- If a command's purpose isn't clear to you, ask in a ticket before running it -- especially commands copied from a forum.
Related guides
- How to Use SSH, SSH Keys and Terminal in cPanel
- Basic Linux Commands for Managing Your Website over SSH
- How to Fix "Permission Denied (publickey)" and Other SSH Connection Errors
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and the Instant Access Internet Services team will help.
