---
title: "How to enable SSH access"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/security/ssh-access/"
description: "This guide shows how to enable and manage your SSH account in SiteWorx. Learn to activate SSH access, reset passwords, add keys, and whitelist IPs."
vertical: "Sites & Stores"
date: "2019-09-11"
last_modified: "2026-07-02"
---

# How to enable SSH access

Exemption for Nexcess Cloud clients

If you are a Nexcess Cloud client, SSH access is enabled by default. See [How to generate and view SSH/FTP passwords for your Nexcess Cloud account](https://www.nexcess.net/help/locating-your-sshsftp-credentials-for-your-nexcess-cloudaccount/) for more information.

## Method

Attention:

This procedure alone will not grant SSH access; you must also whitelist any IP addresses that will connect using SSH. See [How to manage firewall whitelists in SiteWorx](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/security/allow-or-deny-access-via-firewall/) for more information.

1. Log in to your SiteWorx account. 
    - If you do not know your password, click **Forgot your password** on the login page. For more information, see [Logging into Siteworx](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/logging-into-siteworx/).
2. From the main menu, click **Hosting Features > SSH Account**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568219770117-1568219770117.png)
3. In the SSH Account Information section, click **Enable account**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568219799054-1568219799054.png)
4. When complete, SiteWorx will show your new SSH password. You may reset this password at any time by clicking **Reset password**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568219814884-1568219814884.png)
5. You must now whitelist any IP addresses that will log in using SSH. Follow the instructions in [How to manage firewall whitelists in SiteWorx](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/security/allow-or-deny-access-via-firewall/). In Step 4 of that document, when you select a **Port**: 
    1. If your SSH username resembles an email address, select **SFTP \[24\]**.
    2. Otherwise, select **SSH \[22\]**.

##  Resetting SSH passwords 

Note:

If you are a Nexcess Cloud client, see: [How to generate and view SSH/FTP passwords for your Nexcess Cloud Account](https://www.nexcess.net/help/locating-your-sshsftp-credentials-for-your-nexcess-cloudaccount/) and [How to add SSH keys for your Nexcess Cloud account](https://www.nexcess.net/_questions/456444).

1. Log in to your SiteWorx account. 
    - If you do not know your password, click **Forgot your password** on the login page. For more information, see [Logging into Siteworx](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/logging-into-siteworx/).
2. From the SiteWorx main menu, click **Hosting Features > SSH Account**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568220424110-1568220424110.png)
3. In the SSH Account Information section, click **Reset password**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568220438693-1568220438693.png)
4. After a moment, SiteWorx will provide the new password.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568220459146-1568220459146.png)

## Adding SSH Keys

For more information about SSH keys and how their use can simplify control access for multiple users, see [What are the advantages of using SSH keys to control access for multiple users?](https://www.nexcess.net/_questions/456342)

1. Log in to your SiteWorx account. 
    - If you do not know your password, click **Forgot your password** on the login page. For more information, see [Logging into Siteworx](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/logging-into-siteworx/).
2. From the SiteWorx main menu, click **Hosting Features > SSH Account**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568220475459-1568220475459.png)  
    **ATTENTION:** For Step 3, you must have already created the SSH key pair using the method provided in [How to create SSH keys in macOS and Linux](https://www.nexcess.net/_questions/456358) or [How to create SSH Keys in Windows with Putty](https://www.nexcess.net/_questions/456360). You will use the public key for Step 3.

If your key is valid, SiteWorx will confirm success.

In the SSH Keys section, paste your public SSH key into the **Key** field and, if desired, fill the **Date** **expire** field. Click **Add Key**.![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1568220515404-1568220515404.png)