How to Enable and Use SSH Access on Your Hosting Account

SSH (Secure Shell) gives you a command-line connection to your hosting account, so you can run tasks that aren't practical through a web-based file manager: installing software with Composer or WP-CLI, cloning a Git repository, or moving large numbers of files quickly. Most shared hosting accounts have SSH access turned off by default for security, so you'll usually need to enable it yourself first.

What You Can Do with SSH

Once connected, you're working directly on the server through a command line rather than clicking through a control panel. Common uses include:

• Running WordPress commands with WP-CLI (updating plugins, resetting a password, clearing a cache).
• Cloning or pulling changes from a Git repository straight onto your hosting account.
• Installing dependencies with Composer or npm for a custom application.
• Copying or syncing large numbers of files faster than FTP, using tools like rsync or scp.
• Checking logs or server resource usage directly.

If you're not comfortable working from a command line, you likely don't need SSH access. The File Manager in your control panel and standard FTP cover most day-to-day website management needs.

Enabling SSH Access

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Under the Security section, click SSH Access.
3. Click Manage SSH Keys.
4. Click Generate a New Key, give it a name, optionally set a passphrase, and choose a key size (2048 bits or higher is fine).
5. Click Generate Key, then go back to the key list and click Manage next to your new key.
6. Click Authorize to activate the key for use.

If you don't see an SSH Access or Terminal icon in your cPanel at all, shell access hasn't been enabled on your account yet. Contact ZIPROF support and ask for SSH access to be turned on for your hosting account.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin.
2. Go to Advanced Features and click SSH Keys.
3. Click Add a new key, paste in your public key, and save it. If you don't already have a key pair, generate one on your own computer first (see the connecting steps below), then paste the public key here.

As with cPanel, if SSH Keys isn't visible under Advanced Features, ask ZIPROF support to enable SSH for your account first.

Connecting to Your Account via SSH

1. On Mac or Linux, open the built-in Terminal app. On Windows, use PuTTY or the Terminal app in a recent version of Windows.
2. Run a command in the form ssh yourusername@yourdomain.com -p 22, replacing the username and domain with your own hosting details.
3. Some accounts use a custom SSH port instead of the default port 22. Check your hosting welcome email or ask ZIPROF support if the connection is refused on port 22.
4. If you set up a key, your terminal or PuTTY needs to be pointed at the matching private key file. If you're using password authentication instead, enter your hosting account password when prompted.

Keep your private key file secure and never share it or your SSH password with anyone. If you ever suspect a key has been exposed, delete it from cPanel or DirectAdmin and generate a new one.

Once connected, you're in your account's home directory and can navigate with standard Linux commands. If you mainly need to move files rather than run commands, an SFTP connection (which also uses SSH) through a client like FileZilla is often simpler. See FTP vs SFTP: Which Should You Use to Transfer Files to Your Website? for the difference.