How to Log in to Plesk?

Plesk is a powerful web hosting control panel that simplifies server management, website deployment, and domain administration. Gaining access to the Plesk web interface is the first step in leveraging its robust features. This guide outlines the various secure methods available to log in to your Plesk server, whether you are using dedicated Plesk credentials, the server's root or administrator password, or an SSH key for enhanced security.

Applicable to:

• Plesk for Linux
• Plesk for Windows

Understanding Plesk Login Methods

You can securely access the Plesk web interface through several authentication methods, providing flexibility depending on your server configuration and access privileges. These methods include using your dedicated Plesk account credentials, leveraging the server's primary root or administrator password, or generating a secure one-time login link via SSH.

Note: To successfully log in to Plesk over HTTPS, it is crucial that the default port, typically 8443, is open in your server's firewall. For detailed instructions on configuring firewall rules, please refer to the documentation on opening a port in a firewall.

Method 1: Logging in with Plesk Account Credentials

This is the most common and straightforward method for users with a dedicated Plesk account. You will use your assigned username and password to access the control panel directly through your web browser.

1. Open your web browser and in the address bar, enter the Plesk login page URL. This typically follows the format: https://<Server hostname or IP address>:8443. Ensure you replace <Server hostname or IP address> with your actual server's hostname or its public IP address.

   Note: Upon initial access, you might encounter an SSL warning in your browser. This often indicates that a valid SSL certificate has not yet been installed for your Plesk panel. It is generally safe to bypass this warning and proceed, especially for a first-time login.

2. On the Plesk login page, input your designated Plesk account username and password. For instance, the default administrator username is often admin.

   

3. Click the Log In button to gain access to the Plesk web interface.

Upon successful authentication, you will be redirected to the Plesk control panel, ready to manage your server and websites.

Note: If the root user's access to Plesk has been intentionally disabled, logging in using root credentials via this method will not be possible. Refer to how to disable access to Plesk for root or administrator users for more information.

Method 2: Logging in with Root or Administrator Password

For server administrators, logging in using the operating system's root (for Linux) or administrator (for Windows) account password provides direct access to Plesk. This method is particularly useful if you manage the server at a fundamental level.

1. In your web browser, navigate to the Plesk login page by typing the URL in the format: https://<Server hostname or IP address>:8443. Remember to substitute the placeholder with your server's actual hostname or IP address.

   Note: As with the previous method, an SSL warning may appear if a proper SSL certificate is not yet configured. It is safe to temporarily bypass this warning to proceed with your login.

2. On the login screen, enter either root (for Linux servers) or administrator (for Windows servers) as the username, and then provide the corresponding password that you use to connect to your server via SSH or RDP.

   

3. Click Log In to enter the Plesk web interface using your server's administrative credentials.

Successfully logging in via this method grants you full administrative access to your Plesk control panel.

Method 3: Accessing Plesk via SSH

Accessing Plesk through SSH provides a secure and flexible way to generate a one-time login link, which is particularly useful for automated scripts or situations where direct password entry is not preferred. This method requires initial access to the Plesk server via an SSH client.

1. 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 standard SSH client available on your system. Ensure that your SSH key has the correct permissions set and is placed in the designated directory for secure authentication.

   • For Windows users: We highly recommend using PuTTY, a widely recognized and free SSH client. If you are using PuTTY with an SSH key, you might need to convert your key to PuTTY's specific format using PuTTYgen.

   For more detailed information on connecting via SSH, refer to the article on accessing Plesk via SSH.

2. Once you have successfully connected to your Plesk server via SSH, execute the following command in the terminal to generate a secure one-time login link:

   # plesk login

   The command will output two unique login links, typically in these formats:

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

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

   • It is recommended to first attempt using the link that includes your server's hostname: https://<Server hostname>/login?secret=<session_token>.

   • If the hostname-based link fails to load for any reason, proceed by using the link that contains your server's IP address: https://<Server IP address>/login?secret=<session_token>.

   Note: In scenarios where your Plesk server operates behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) setup, the system might generate a link pointing to a private IP address. In such cases, you will need to manually replace the private IP address with the public IP address of your server before pasting the link into your browser.

   Note: Similar to other login methods, you might encounter an SSL warning. This is a common occurrence if a proper SSL certificate has not yet been installed on your Plesk instance and can be safely bypassed for the purpose of login.

Additional Resources

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

Important Note: If you are a Plesk administrator and have forgotten your credentials or do not have them, please contact your server hosting provider for assistance with recovery. For all other users, please reach out to your Plesk administrator for help in restoring your login information.