How to connect to a VPS over SSH (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Updated 2026-10-13 · Kvnthost guides

SSH is how you control a Linux server: a secure terminal session over the internet. You need three things from your provider's dashboard: the server's IP address, the username (usually root) and the password or SSH key.

Windows 10 and 11

Windows already has an SSH client. Open Terminal or PowerShell and type:

ssh root@203.0.113.10

Replace the IP with yours. Type yes when asked to trust the host key, then paste the password (it stays invisible while you type — that's normal) and press Enter. Prefer a graphical tool? PuTTY and MobaXterm work the same way: host = IP, port = 22.

macOS and Linux

Open Terminal and run the same command:

ssh root@203.0.113.10

Common errors and fixes

Message	What it means	Fix
`Connection timed out`	The server isn't reachable yet or a firewall blocks port 22	Wait a minute after creating the server; check its firewall
`Connection refused`	Nothing listens on port 22	SSH is still starting, or it runs on another port: `ssh -p 2222 root@IP`
`Permission denied`	Wrong user or password	Copy the password again from the dashboard; check the username
`REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED`	The server was rebuilt or its IP was reused	`ssh-keygen -R 203.0.113.10`, then connect again

Log in with a key instead of a password

Keys are both safer and more convenient. Create a key pair with our SSH key generator, or on your computer:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519

Press Enter to accept the defaults. Then copy the public key to the server (macOS/Linux):

ssh-copy-id root@203.0.113.10

On Windows, run this in PowerShell instead:

type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub | ssh root@203.0.113.10 "mkdir -p ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"

From now on ssh root@IP logs you in without a password. Once that works, consider disabling password logins entirely.

No SSH at all?

Most providers offer a web console in the dashboard — a browser window that shows the server's screen even when the network is misconfigured. It's the emergency exit when you locked yourself out with a firewall rule.

Logged in? Keep the Linux commands cheat sheet open in another tab.

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