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# How to Connect to Cloudways Server Using SSH & SFTP?
- URL: https://comtechies.com/connect-to-cloudways-server/
- Published: 2025-10-11T06:03:50.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-16T12:34:12.000Z
- Author: Sulaiman
- Tags: CLOUD HOSTING, Cloudways

In this guide, you will learn how to connect to your Cloudways server to the local machine using SSHand SFTP(step-by-step).

First, let's know about SSH & SFTP.

## What is SSH & SFTP?

**SSH(Secure Shell)** is a protocol used to access and manage a server from your local computer remotely. It allows you to perform administrative tasks even when your hosting dashboard is not working properly.

**SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)** is used for securely transferring files between your local system and the remote server.

## Methods to Connect to a Cloudways Server

You can connect to the Cloudways server using three methods.

1. Using Username and Password from an SSH client
2. Using the SSH key from an SSH client
3. Using the built-in SSH terminal in the Cloudways dashboard
4. Connect using SFTP

## Prerequisites

- Cloudways server details (public IP, username, password)
- SSH & SFTP client

## Method 1: Connect using Username and Password

Follow the steps to connect an Cloudways server with SSH client using your public IP address, username, and password.

### Step 1: Get your Cloudways server details

Login to the Cloudways dashboard, and in the left-side menu bar, you will see the **Server** option, click on it.

You will now see your Cloudways Server with the name you assigned to it.

![go to the cloudways dashboard and click the sever](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-23-2.png)

Once you click your server, you can find your Master credentials, which include public IP, username, and password.

![Master credentials of cloudways account](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-26.png)

### Step 2: Connect to Cloudways server from the SSH client

First, you need an SSH client to connect your system to the Cloudways server.

If you are using **Windows**, check whether the Puttytool is installed. If not, install it. But **Windows 11** supports OpenSSH by default in **CMD**, so you don’t need Putty.

If you are using **Mac** or **Linux**, your system already has **OpenSSH** installed, so no installation is required.

Next, open the terminal and run the following command:

```sh
ssh <username>@<public ip>
```

Enter your Cloudways server's public IP address and username, then click **Enter.**

![run the command: ssh <username>@<public ip> and enter the cloudways username and password](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-33.png)

Now type **Yes** to confirm the connection and enter the **password**, and press Enter.

That's it, now your Cloudways server will be remotely connected to the SSH client.

## Method 2: Connect Using SSH Key 

Follow this method to create an SSH key from your local system and connect to your Cloudways server from your local machine using the SSH key.

### Step 1: Create SSH Keys

Create an SSH Public Key for your Cloudways server to access it without a password.

Run the following command:

```sh
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096
```

You will get the following output.

![creating public and private key](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-34.png)

Now, press `Enter` for everything. Once done, you will have public and private keys. Now open the `id_rsa.pub` file, and copy its contents.

### Step 2: Add public key to Cloudways server

Now go to the Cloudways server, in the master credentials page, you will see a '**SSH Public Keys'** button, click on it.

![In the cloudways master credential page, you will see, SSH public keys button, click on it](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-35.png)

Give a label as you wish, then paste the content of your `id_rsa.pub` file, and click **submit.**

![provide a name and paste the public key content from the file id_rsa.pub](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-37.png)

### Step 3: Connect using the private SSH key

First, run the following command: 

```
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa <username>@<public ip>
```

Replace `~/.ssh/id_rsa` with your private key path if it's different.

Also, update your username and the public IP address, and press enter.

![connect to the cloudways server using ssh key](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-38.png)

It will ask question, type **yes** and press **Enter** to connect to your server.

## Method 3: Connect using Cloudways Built-in Terminal 

This is a very easy method. 

Select your server and you will see `Launch SSH terminal` button, double click it to launch the SSH terminal in your browser.

![Click on the Launch SSH terminal](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-39.png)

Once the terminal is opened, enter your **username** and **password** and press Enter to connect to the server.

![enter the username and password to connect to the cloudways server](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-43.png)

## Method 4: How to Connect SFTP Server

Before getting into the steps, you have to know this.

To use SFTP, you need an SFTP client. There are many SFTP client applications available on the internet, such as FileZilla, Nautilus, WinSCP, Cyberduck, and Transmit. You can also use command-line tools like `scp` and `sftp`.

### Step 1: Install SFTP client 

Open the terminal and run this Ubuntu command: 

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install filezilla

```

Run the following command to verify FileZilla.

```
which filezilla

```

You will get the following output.

![verifying if filezilla is installed](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-53.png)

> **Note:** If you are using the Windows operating system, you should install WinSCP, it is one of the SFTP client tools for Windows. If you want to install WinSCP, then [click here](https://winscp.net/eng/download.php?ref=comtechies.com#google%5Fvignette)

### Step 2: Connect to Cloudways server via FileZilla

Open the FileZilla application. At the top, you will see fields for `host` ,`username` ,`password` `port` , and `quitconnect`.

![Connect the cloudways server through FileZilla and drag and drop the files](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/17/98179ffe-00c9-4599-8b4a-1f5f7ba0565b/content/images/2025/10/image-57.png)

Enter your Cloudways server’s public IP address in the Host field, and enter the **username** and **password** of your Cloudways account.

Next, set the Port number to **22**, which is the default SSH port. Then click **Quickconnect,** FileZilla will connect to your server, and you will see a message confirming a successful connection.

On the right side, you will see your Cloudways server’s file system, and on the left side, your local computer’s file system. 

You can easily drag and drop files to transfer them.

## Conclusion

In this guide, I have shown four step-by-step methods to connect your [cloudways server](https://comtechies.com/how-to-download-backup-from-cloudways/) to a local machine using SSH & SFTP.

If you have any doubts about this guide, please share them in the comment! Also, if you want to learn anything specific about [Cloudways](https://comtechies.com/cloudways-review/), feel free to mention it.

I am happy to help you out!

If you are planning to upgrade or purchase Cloudways, use this [Cloudways Promo Code](https://comtechies.com/cloudways-promo-code/) to get an exclusive discount and save money.

🎁

****Note:** The best time to save money is during the [Cloudways Black Friday Deals](https://comtechies.com/cloudways-black-friday-deal/). During the [Black Friday Deals](https://comtechies.com/black-friday-web-hosting-deals/), you can get much bigger discounts compared to regular offers.

Also, if you would like to learn how to clear the application cache in Cloudways, here is a [detailed guide](https://comtechies.com/clear-cache-in-cloudways/).