How to Log In to Plesk

Plesk is a powerful web hosting control panel that allows you to manage your websites, databases, email accounts, and more with ease. To harness its full potential, the first step is to log into its intuitive web interface. This guide will walk you through the various secure methods available to access your Plesk control panel.

Applicable Plesk Versions

• Plesk for Linux
• Plesk for Windows

Important Pre-Login Considerations

Firewall Configuration

Before attempting to log in, it is crucial to ensure that the necessary port for Plesk access over HTTPS is open in your server's firewall. By default, Plesk uses port 8443. If this port is not open, you will not be able to reach the login page. For detailed instructions on how to open this port, please refer to this guide.

Method 1: Logging In with Plesk Account Credentials

This is the most common and straightforward method for users to access their Plesk panel. You will use the specific username and password associated with your Plesk account, which are typically provided when your hosting account is set up.

Step-by-Step Guide

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

2. You may encounter an SSL warning, indicating that a proper SSL certificate has not yet been installed for your Plesk panel. This is common during initial setup or if a self-signed certificate is in use. It is generally safe to proceed past this warning for the initial login.

   Enter your Plesk account username and password. For instance, the default administrator username is often admin. Here’s an example of the login interface:

   
3. Click the Log In button to proceed and access your control panel.

Upon successful login, you will be directed to the Plesk web interface, where you can begin managing your websites, domains, and other services.

Important Considerations for Plesk Credentials

Please note that if direct access to Plesk has been disabled for the root user on your server, you will not be able to use the root user's credentials to log in via this method. Ensure you are using a valid Plesk account username and password.

Method 2: Logging In with Server Root/Administrator Password

If you have administrative access to the server itself (either root for Linux or administrator for Windows), you can leverage these credentials to log into the Plesk panel directly.

Step-by-Step Guide

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

2. As with the previous method, an SSL warning may appear if a valid SSL certificate is not installed or recognized. You can safely bypass this warning for now to access the login page.

   Enter either root (for Linux servers) or administrator (for Windows servers) as the username, along with the corresponding password you use to connect to the server directly via SSH or RDP.

   
3. Click Log In to gain access to the Plesk web interface using your operating system's administrative credentials.

This method provides a direct and powerful way into Plesk, especially useful for server administrators.

Method 3: Accessing Plesk via SSH (One-Time Login Link)

For advanced users, or in situations where direct web browser access to the login page is problematic, Plesk allows you to generate a secure one-time login link via an SSH connection to your server.

Connecting to the Plesk Server via SSH

First, establish a secure shell (SSH) connection to your Plesk server. The method for doing this varies depending on your operating system:

• For Linux and macOS users: You can use any preferred SSH client available on your system, typically accessible through the terminal. Remember to set the correct permissions for your SSH key (if used) and place it in the designated folder.
• For Windows users: We highly recommend using PuTTY, a widely used free SSH client. If you are using PuTTY, you may need to convert your SSH key into the specific PuTTY format before attempting to connect.

Generating a One-Time Login Link

Once you have successfully connected to your Plesk server via SSH, execute the following command in the terminal:

# plesk login

The system will then generate and display two unique login links, which include a session token for secure, temporary access. These links will typically appear in formats similar to these:

• https://<Server hostname>/login?secret=<session_token>
• https://<Server IP address>/login?secret=<session_token>

Utilizing the Generated Link

Copy one of the generated links and paste it into your web browser's address bar to access Plesk securely.

1. Begin by attempting to use the link that includes your server's hostname: https://<Server hostname>/login?secret=<session_token>. This is generally the preferred method.
2. If, for any reason, the hostname link does not function as expected (e.g., due to DNS issues), then use the link containing your server's IP address: https://<Server IP address>/login?secret=<session_token>.

Note on NAT Environments: If your Plesk server is situated behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall, the system will only generate a link with a private IP address. In such cases, you will need to manually replace the private IP address in the generated link with your server's public IP address before pasting it into your browser for external access.

Just like with other direct login methods, an SSL warning might appear in your browser. This is normal if a proper SSL certificate has not yet been configured for your Plesk installation, and you can safely bypass it to proceed to the control panel.

Troubleshooting and Additional Resources

What if You Forget Your Credentials?

If you are unable to recall your Plesk credentials, or if you do not have them readily available, follow these guidelines:

• As a Plesk Administrator: You should reach out to your server hosting provider or data center for assistance in recovering or resetting your credentials. They have the necessary access to help you.
• As any other user: Please contact your Plesk administrator (the individual or team managing the Plesk server) who can help you regain access to your account.

Further Reading and Related Articles

For more in-depth information or specific scenarios, consider consulting these helpful resources:

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