To connect to a Hostinger hosting account over SSH without typing your account password each time, create a key pair on your own computer, enable SSH Access in the Hostinger dashboard, and add only the public half of the pair. The private key never leaves your machine. The steps below cover eligibility, key generation on macOS, Linux and Windows, the dashboard entry, and a first connection test.
Confirm your plan supports SSH before you start
SSH access in Hostinger’s web-hosting guidance is limited by plan. Check these points in your account first:
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- Eligible plans: Hostinger’s enablement guide lists Premium Web or higher. Single hosting does not include SSH access, and the connection guide excludes Single Web plans.
- Access scope: On web hosting, SSH access is restricted to the home directory and the folders beneath it.
- Plan names vary: Hostinger uses different product names across its services. If your plan name does not match these examples, check the plan details in your account before going further.
- VPS servers: VPS key management follows a different dashboard path, covered in its own section below.
Generate the key pair on your computer
Create the key pair locally. Hostinger’s current SSH tutorial, published May 22, 2026, recommends the Ed25519 algorithm for modern systems. Use the RSA 4096 fallback only when a client does not support Ed25519.
| Option | Command | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Ed25519 (recommended) | ssh-keygen -t ed25519 |
Modern macOS, Linux, Windows OpenSSH and most current SSH clients |
| RSA 4096 (fallback) | ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 |
Older systems that do not support Ed25519 |
macOS and Linux
Open Terminal and run the Ed25519 command. You can add a label comment so the key is easy to recognize later:
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-label"The tutorial shows the label as an optional comment; it does not change how the key works.
Windows
Windows users can generate the key in PowerShell, inside WSL, in Git Bash, or with PuTTY. The first three use the same OpenSSH-style command shown above. PuTTY uses its own key generator and file formats, so follow its separate workflow if you choose that route. Hostinger’s guidance covers the OpenSSH commands only.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Choose the filename and passphrase carefully
Ssh-keygen creates two files. The public key ends in .pub, for example id_ed25519.pub. The private key has the same name without the .pub suffix. Before you confirm a filename, check whether a file already exists at that path. Choosing an existing path can overwrite a key you still use for other servers.
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- Filename: Use a name that identifies the host or project if you manage several keys.
Add the public key to the Hostinger dashboard
Print the public key so you can copy all of its contents. On macOS or Linux, run cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub. Then follow these steps:
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
- Log in to hPanel and go to Websites, then open Dashboard for the site or hosting plan.
- Find SSH Access and turn it on if it is not already enabled.
- Select Add SSH key. Some current pages use an Add record label in this area, and older help-center articles show Manage before the add button. Use the labels shown in your own account.
- Enter a recognizable name for the key, such as your computer name.
- Paste the full contents of the
.pubfile into the key field, then save.
Keep the private key on your computer
Hostinger’s key-pair guide makes one point clear: “Only the Public key has to be added to Hostinger dashboard.” Upload or paste only the .pub file. Never copy the private key into the dashboard, into a support ticket, or into a shared file. Keep it on the machine where you generated it, and treat a passphrase as a real layer of protection for that file.
Connect and verify the key
After SSH is enabled and the key appears in the list, copy the SSH command shown in the dashboard. Paste it into Terminal, or into a Windows SSH client, and run it. Accept the host fingerprint on the first connection, then confirm you reach the server without a password prompt. Test the connection before you change other authentication settings, so you still have a working route if something needs adjusting.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
VPS servers use a different path
Hostinger’s current tutorial describes a separate VPS route: VPS, then your server, then Settings, then SSH keys. Do not use the Websites → Dashboard steps above on a VPS. Confirm your product type first, because the two paths are not interchangeable.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOnce the key works, you can connect with the same key pair from any machine where you hold the private key. For a new computer, generate a new pair and add its public key separately rather than copying the old private file.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The information below is per-pack only
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
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