SSH (Secure Shell) lets you access and manage your VPS from your Windows computer. You have two main options: PuTTY (a standalone application) or Windows Terminal (built into Windows 10/11). Both work equally well—choose whichever you prefer.
Using Windows Terminal (Recommended)
Windows Terminal comes pre-installed on Windows 10 (build 1903+) and Windows 11. It's the easiest option if you have it.
1. Open Windows Terminal
- Press Win + X and select "Terminal" or "Windows PowerShell"
- Or search for "Windows Terminal" in the Start menu
2. Connect to your VPS
```bash
ssh youruser@your-server-ip
```
Replace youruser with your username (often root on a new VPS) and your-server-ip with your VPS's IP address.
3. Verify the host fingerprint
- On first connection, you'll see a message like: The authenticity of host '203.0.113.10' can't be established...
- Type yes and press Enter to accept and save the fingerprint
4. Enter your password
- Type the password for that user and press Enter
- Note: the password won't display as you type—this is normal for security
You're now connected and can run commands on your VPS.
Using PuTTY
If you prefer a graphical interface or have an older Windows version, PuTTY is a lightweight alternative.
1. Download and install PuTTY
- Visit putty.org
- Download the Windows installer and run it
2. Open PuTTY and enter connection details
- Launch PuTTY
- In the "Host Name (or IP address)" field, enter your VPS IP (e.g., 203.0.113.10)
- Leave the Port as 22 (the standard SSH port)
- Under "Connection type," select "SSH"
3. Connect
- Click "Open"
- A terminal window will open
- When prompted, accept the host fingerprint by clicking "Yes"
- Enter your username and password when requested
4. Save your connection (optional)
- To avoid re-entering details, before clicking "Open":
- Enter a name in the "Saved Sessions" field (e.g., my-vps)
- Click "Save"
- Next time, select the saved session and click "Open"
Troubleshooting
"Connection refused" or "Connection timed out"
- Verify the IP address is correct
- Check that your hosting provider has assigned SSH access on port 22
- If your VPS is behind a firewall/security group, ensure port 22 is open
"Permission denied"
- Confirm you're using the correct username and password
- Check for caps lock or extra spaces in your entry
Slow connection
- SSH connections are typically instant; if slow, it may be a network issue
- Try again or contact your hosting provider
What's Next?
Once connected, you can run any command on your VPS. Common next steps:
- Update packages: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade (Debian/Ubuntu)
- Create a new user: sudo adduser newusername
- Check disk space: df -h
- View running processes: top