How to Log In to Plesk: A Comprehensive Guide

Applicable Platforms

• Plesk for Linux
• Plesk for Windows

Understanding Plesk Login

This guide provides detailed instructions on how to access the Plesk web interface through various methods. Plesk is a powerful control panel that allows you to manage your web hosting, server, and websites efficiently. Understanding the different login procedures ensures seamless access to your administrative tools.

Methods to Access Your Plesk Interface

You can securely log in to the Plesk web interface using several credential types: your dedicated Plesk account credentials, the root or administrator password for your server, or by generating a one-time login link via an SSH key. Each method offers a secure way to gain access to your Plesk environment.

Important Note: To ensure successful access to Plesk over HTTPS, it is crucial that the necessary port (defaulting to 8443) is properly opened in your firewall settings. Failure to open this port will prevent web browser access to the Plesk login page.

1. Logging In with Plesk Account Credentials

To access the Plesk web interface using your assigned Plesk account username and password, follow these steps:

1. In your web browser's address bar, type the Plesk login page link using the following format: https://<Server hostname or IP address>:8443.

   Note: You might encounter an SSL warning. This typically indicates that a custom or valid SSL certificate has not yet been installed for your Plesk panel. It is generally safe to proceed past this warning for initial login.

2. Enter your Plesk account username and password. For instance, 'admin' is often used as a default example username.
3. Click the Log In button to proceed.

Upon successful authentication, you will be redirected to the Plesk web interface dashboard.

Note: If access to Plesk has been disabled for the root user on your server, this method of login using root credentials will not be available.

2. Logging In with Server Root/Administrator Credentials

For server administrators, Plesk can also be accessed using the root password (for Linux servers) or the administrator password (for Windows servers). Follow these instructions:

1. Open your web browser and enter the Plesk login page URL: https://<Server hostname or IP address>:8443.

   Note: As with other methods, an SSL warning may appear if a proper SSL certificate is not configured. It is safe to bypass this warning to continue to the login page.

2. Input root (for Linux) or administrator (for Windows) as the username, and then enter the corresponding root/administrator password you use for connecting to the server.
3. Click Log In to gain access to the Plesk control panel.

This will grant you access to the Plesk web interface with administrative privileges.

3. Accessing Plesk via SSH and a One-Time Login Link

For those who prefer command-line access or need to troubleshoot, Plesk can be accessed by generating a one-time login link through an SSH connection. This method requires initial access to the Plesk server via SSH.

1. First, establish an SSH connection to your Plesk server using an appropriate SSH client. The choice of client depends on your operating system:
   • For Linux and macOS users: You can utilize any SSH client that suits your workflow. Remember to set the correct permissions for your SSH key and place it in the designated directory for secure connection.
   • For Windows users: PuTTY is a widely recommended and free SSH client. If using PuTTY, you might need to convert your SSH key into the PuTTY-specific format for compatibility.
2. Once you have successfully accessed the Plesk server via SSH, execute the following command in the terminal to generate a one-time login link:

   # plesk login

   The command will output two unique links, formatted similarly to these examples:

   • https://<Server hostname>/login?secret=<session_token>
   • https://<Server IP address>/login?secret=<session_token>
3. Copy and paste one of these generated links into your web browser's address bar to log in.
   • Initially, try using the link that includes the server hostname: https://<Server hostname>/login?secret=<session_token>.
   • If the hostname link does not function correctly, use the link with the server's IP address: https://<Server IP address>/login?secret=<session_token>.

   Note: If your Plesk server is configured behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) setup, the system might generate a link using only a private IP address. In such cases, you will need to manually replace the private IP address with the server's public IP address in the URL before pasting it into your browser.

Important: Similar to other login methods, you might encounter an SSL warning. This is a common occurrence if a custom SSL certificate is not installed on the Plesk panel and can be safely bypassed to proceed with your login.

Further Resources

• I Forgot my Plesk User Account Password
• How to log in to Plesk on Amazon Lightsail/DigitalOcean using SSH keys

If you are a Plesk administrator who has forgotten your credentials or do not have them, please contact your server hosting provider for assistance with recovery. For all other users, your Plesk administrator is the appropriate point of contact for regaining access to your account.