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How to access your VPS via SSH on Windows using PuTTY

Learn how to enter your VPS Linux from the Windows using the PuTTY, with server IP, port 22/TCP, user root and password. The focus here is password-first access, taking care not to compromise security.

Published in Matheus Henrique7 min read

Quick Summary

What you need to connect via SSH

SSH is the protocol used to remotely administer Linux servers. On the Windows, PuTTY creates a secure session between your computer and the VPS. To enter with a password, you need the server IP, SSH port, root user and password entered on the panel or delivery email.

Customer Windows
PuTTY
Default port
22/TCP
Home user
root

Before you start

  • Have the public IP of the VPS at hand.
  • Confirm the SSH port. On most servers, it is 22.
  • Separate the user root and the initial server password.
  • Download PuTTY from the official website: putty.org.

Step by step

  1. 01

    Open PuTTY on Windows

    After installing PuTTY, open the program. The first screen already shows the main connection fields: server address, port and connection type.

  2. 02

    Enter IP, port and SSH

    In the field host name, enter the IP of the VPS. In Port, use22, unless your SSH is on another port. In Connection type, keep SSH.

    Host Name: 192.0.2.10
Port: 22
Connection type: SSH
  3. 03

    Start the connection

    Click Open. If this is the first access, PuTTY will display an alert about the server key. Just confirm that you entered the correct IP and recognize the VPS.

  4. 04

    Enter the root user

    When it appears login as:, type root and press Enter.

    login as: root
  5. 05

    Enter the root password

    Paste or type the VPS initial password and press Enter. For security, the terminal does not show the password as you type it. This is normal.

  6. 06

    Confirm server access

    If the login is correct, the terminal will show the server prompt. It usually looks like:

    root@seu-servidor:~#

    From this point on, you can now manage the VPS per terminal.

If SSH is not installed on Ubuntu

In VPS Ubuntu, the SSH service is normally already active. If you have web console access and need to install SSH on the server, use the package openssh-server:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openssh-server -y
sudo systemctl enable --now ssh
sudo systemctl status ssh

Alternative: SSH through PowerShell

In current versions of Windows, you can also connect via PowerShell or Windows Terminal using the OpenSSH client. For standard port:

ssh [email protected]

If SSH is on another port, use:

ssh [email protected] -p 2222

Care after the first root login

  • Change the initial password: If you were given a temporary password, change it to a strong password.
  • Update the system: Run updates before installing important services.
  • Configure firewall: free the SSH port and close ports you are not using.
  • Plan to use SSH key: root with password is common for first access, but SSH key is better for continuous use.

Common errors when accessing SSH on Windows

  • Incorrect IP: Please confirm that you are using the correct public IP of the VPS.
  • Wrong port: use 22 only if the SSH port has not been changed.
  • Password pasted with space: When copying the password, avoid spaces before or after it.
  • Firewall blocking: If the connection times out, check whether the SSH port is free on the UFW or external firewall.

FAQ

Which user should I use to access the VPS for the first time?

In this guide we use the root user, because many VPS are initially shipped with root and password. After the first access, it is recommended to create an administrative user and reinforce security.

Why doesn't the password appear when I type it in the terminal?

This is normal for SSH connections. The terminal does not show characters, periods, or asterisks while you enter the password. Type carefully and press Enter.

What port does SSH use by default?

The default SSH port is 22/TCP. If the provider or administrator changed this port, use the custom port in PuTTY.

Do I need to install SSH on the Ubuntu server?

If the SSH service is not installed on the VPS, install the openssh-server package and start the ssh service. openssh-client is used on the client machine, not to receive connections to the server.

Conclusion

PuTTY remains a simple way to access VPS Linux via Windows. For the first access, enter the server IP, port 22, SSH type, root user and password. Once logged in, review security, firewall, and updates.

To continue protecting your server, also see the UFW and Fail2ban guides on the BedHosting blog.

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