How to Log In to Plesk

Plesk provides a powerful web hosting control panel, simplifying server and website management. This guide outlines the various methods available for accessing the Plesk web interface securely through your web browser.

Applicable Systems

• Plesk for Linux
• Plesk for Windows

Accessing the Plesk interface is straightforward, with several options depending on your credentials and security setup. You can log in using your specific Plesk account details, the root or administrator password for your server, or by generating a one-time login link via SSH.

Important Note: To successfully log in to Plesk via HTTPS, the designated port (defaulting to 8443) must be open in your server's firewall. For detailed instructions on configuring your firewall, please refer to the documentation on opening a port in a firewall.

Logging In with Plesk Account Credentials

This is the most common method for accessing the Plesk web interface. Follow these steps:

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

   Note: You might encounter an SSL warning if a proper SSL certificate has not yet been installed. It is generally safe to proceed past this warning for the initial login.

2. Enter your Plesk account username and password. For instance, the default administrator username is often admin.

   

3. Click the Log In button.

Upon successful authentication, you will be directed to the Plesk web interface, where you can begin managing your services.

Note: If access to Plesk has been disabled for the root user, this specific login method might not be available.

Logging In with Server Root/Administrator Account Password

If you prefer to use your server's root (for Linux) or administrator (for Windows) credentials, follow these instructions:

1. Open your web browser and type the Plesk login page link into the address bar: https://<Server hostname or IP address>:8443.

   Note: An SSL warning may appear if a valid SSL certificate is not yet configured. It is safe to bypass this warning during your initial access.

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

   

   

3. Click Log In.

You will then gain access to the Plesk web interface using your server's primary administrative credentials.

Accessing Plesk via SSH with a One-Time Login Link

For enhanced security or specific scenarios, you can generate a one-time login link to Plesk after connecting to your server via SSH. This method requires a few additional steps:

1. Connect to your Plesk server using an SSH client. The choice of client depends on your operating system:

   • For Linux and macOS users: You can utilize any preferred SSH client. Ensure that you set the correct permissions for your SSH key and place it in the designated folder.
   • For Windows users: We highly recommend using PuTTY, a popular and free SSH client. If you use PuTTY, you will need to convert your SSH key into the PuTTY-specific format.

2. Once connected to the Plesk server via SSH, execute the following command to generate a one-time login link:

   # plesk login

   The command will output two distinct 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 into your browser's address bar to access Plesk.

   • It is recommended to first attempt using the link formatted with the server's hostname: https://<Server hostname>/login?secret=<session_token>.
   • If the hostname link does not function as expected, proceed by using the link with the server's IP address: https://<Server IP address>/login?secret=<session_token>.

   Note: If your Plesk server operates behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall, the generated link will only display a private IP address. In such cases, you must 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 methods, you might encounter an SSL warning. This is common when a proper SSL certificate is not yet installed and can be safely bypassed for your current login session.

Troubleshooting and Additional Information

Should you encounter issues logging in or require further assistance, the following resources may be helpful:

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

Important: If you do not possess your Plesk credentials, or if you have forgotten them, please take the appropriate action:

• As a Plesk administrator, you should contact your server hosting provider for assistance with credential recovery.
• As any other user, please reach out to your Plesk administrator to help you retrieve or reset your credentials.