Enable SFTP & SSH
Secure Shell (SSH) creates a secure connection when you log in to a remote computer and allows Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), which uses SSH to provide a safe way to transfer files between computers. InstaWP allows you to access your site's file system or run commands using SFTP & SSH.
Plan Requirement: Access to SFTP & SSH depends on which version of InstaWP you're on:
- Legacy users (pre-v3): Available on the Personal Yearly plan and above.
- PPU users (v3 and above): Available on all paid plans.
💡 SFTP and SSH are now controlled by a single toggle. Turning on Enable SSH/SFTP activates both at once, so there's no longer a separate switch for each.
Let’s get started 🚀
How to Enable SFTP & SSH
Step 1: Open the SFTP/SSH Settings for Your Site
- Go to the Sites page in your InstaWP dashboard.
- Find the site you want to configure.
- Click the ⋯ (horizontal ellipsis / three-dot menu) button on that site's card.
- Select SFTP/SSH from the dropdown menu.
The SFTP/SSH panel opens. SFTP and SSH share a single Enable SSH/SFTP toggle. Until it's on, the connection details stay hidden.
Step 2: Enable SSH/SFTP
- In the SFTP/SSH panel, toggle Enable SSH/SFTP to turn it on.
Once enabled, your connection details appear. The same details (Host, Username, Password, and Port) are used for both SFTP and SSH.
| Inputs | Description |
|---|---|
| Host Name | Host name of the WordPress site. |
| User Name | Username to access the WordPress site. |
| Password | Password to access the WordPress site. |
| Port | The port number uniquely identifies the connection endpoint used to receive requests from clients. |
💡 Copy each value directly from the panel and paste it into your SFTP client's connection settings.
Connect via SFTP
SFTP lets you connect to your site's file system using an FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck. Enter the Host, Username, Password, and Port from the panel into your client to connect.
Connect via SSH
SSH lets you access your site's backend via a terminal (command line). This is useful for running WP-CLI commands, editing configuration files, and debugging site issues; all without going through the WordPress admin.
Use the same connection details in your terminal, or click SSH Command in the panel to copy a ready-made connection command.
| 🎯 Commands like
scpandrsyncrely on SSH for secure file transfers. Because the single Enable SSH/SFTP toggle turns on both, they work as soon as access is enabled, with no separate step required.
Choose how you sign in: password or SSH key
The SSH/SFTP Access dialog lets you pick the authentication method for the site's SSH/SFTP user. Open it from Add SSH/SFTP User in the SSH Keys section of the panel, or from the regenerate icon next to the Password row in Connection Details.
| Authentication Method | When to use it |
|---|---|
| SSH Key | Password-less login, and the better choice for deploy scripts and anything automated. Takes you to the key manager. See Add & Use SSH Keys. |
| Password | The quickest option for a desktop SFTP client such as FileZilla, Cyberduck or WinSCP. InstaWP generates a strong password for you. |
You need SSH or SFTP enabled before either method can be used. With both switched off, the dialog asks you to enable one first.
Regenerate the SSH/SFTP password
You can generate a fresh password for the site's SSH/SFTP user at any time, which is what you want after sharing a credential or when you suspect it has leaked.
Step 1: Open the site's SFTP/SSH panel.
Step 2: Click the refresh icon next to the Password row, or open SSH/SFTP Access and choose Password.
Step 3: Click Generate Password. To replace an existing one, the same button reads Regenerate Password.
The new password is shown once, with a copy button. Copy it before you close the dialog.
⚠️ Generating a password replaces the current one immediately. Anything still using the old password, such as a saved SFTP profile, a deploy step or a migration in progress, stops working until you update it.
Use the password with your SFTP client or over SSH, alongside the same Host, Username and Port from the panel.
Related Articles
- Web Terminal - Run commands from a browser terminal
- Local Mount - Edit your site files locally
- Add & Use SSH Keys - Add SSH keys for secure access
- Site Credentials - View your site logins