Some advanced tasks, like editing files directly on your PMPro Hosting server, require SSH access. This guide walks you through creating an SSH key pair on Windows, macOS, or Linux. If support has asked you for an SSH public key, you can follow the steps below to create one.

Do I need SSH Access?

SSH access is optional and intended for advanced users. Most PMPro Hosting customers never need it. Your site works fully without SSH. You can manage everything through the WordPress admin and the PMPro Hosting dashboard. Our support team can log in at your request to implement any change you are not comfortable or interested in doing on your own.

You only need an SSH key if you want to:

• Connect directly to your server to edit files, run commands, or troubleshoot at the server level
• Use SFTP or another tool that requires SSH authentication to transfer files
• Complete a task where our support team has specifically asked you for a public key

If none of the above applies, you can skip this guide. If you’re not sure whether you need SSH access, contact support before going through the steps below.

What Is SSH?

SSH (Secure Shell) is a way to securely connect to a remote server from your own computer. Instead of logging in with a username and password, SSH uses a key pair — two matching files that work together:

• A private key stays on your computer. Think of it like a house key you keep in your pocket. Never share it with anyone.
• A public key is given to the server (or to our support team). Think of it like a lock that only your private key can open. It’s safe to share.

When you connect, the server checks that your private key matches the public key it has on file. If they match, you’re let in. No password required.

You only need to create a key pair once per computer. After that, you’ll use the same key pair whenever you need SSH access.

How to Create an SSH Key Pair

The steps to create your key pair differ based on your operating system. If you use two different operating systems, you need to create a key on both systems and share both keys to our support team.

Create an SSH Key Pair on Windows (Using PuTTY)

1. Download PuTTY from the official website and install it.
2. Launch puttygen.exe.
3. From the top menu bar, select Key and choose SSH-2 EdDSA as the key type.
4. Click Generate. Move the mouse randomly inside the blank area to generate randomness.
5. Once the key is generated:
   • Click Save private key and save it as a .ppk file. Press Yes to save the key without a passphrase (a passphrase is optional). Enter your preferred name for the key.
   • Click Save public key and save it as a .txt file. Use the same name you used for the private key.
6. Open the public key .txt file, copy the contents, and share them with the support team. The key will be in the following format:

ssh-ed25519 AAAAC..........

Create an SSH Key Pair on macOS or Linux

1. Open the Terminal application.
   • macOS: Applications > Utilities > Terminal
   • Linux: Open Terminal from the application menu
2. Run the following command:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

The -t ed25519 part tells the tool to use the ed25519 algorithm, which is the modern, recommended choice for SSH keys.

The -C part adds a comment to help you identify the key later. An email is conventional, but any label works (e.g., "kim-work-laptop"). It is not verified or used for authentication.

3. When prompted for a file location, press Enter to accept the default. The default private key location is your user home directory:

/home/youruser/.ssh/id_ed25519

The system automatically creates the public key in the same directory:

/home/youruser/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

4. When prompted for a passphrase, you can press Enter to skip creating one. A passphrase is optional.
5. Open the .pub file, copy the contents, and share the public key with the support team. The key will be in the following format:

ssh-ed25519 AAAAC..........