Plesk Basics

How to Log In to Plesk

To manage your websites, email accounts, and other hosting services, you need to log in to the Plesk control panel. This guide explains how to access Plesk for the first time and troubleshoot common login issues. Logging In to Plesk 1. Open your web browser. 2. In the address bar, type the following URL: - https://yourdomain.com:8443 (using your domain name) - or https://server-ip-address:8443 (using your server IP address) 3. Press Enter. The Plesk login page will appear. 4. Enter your username and password. 5. Click Log In. Finding Your Login Credentials If you are logging in for the first time: - Check your email for a welcome message from your hosting provider. Your username and password are typically included there. - Your username is usually the email address associated with your hosting account, or the system username provided by your host. - If you cannot find your credentials, contact your hosting provider for assistance. Changing the Interface Language You can select your preferred language before logging in: 1. On the Plesk login page, find the Interface Language dropdown menu. 2. Select your preferred language. 3. Log in as normal. The interface will display in the selected language. Understanding Plesk Interface Views Plesk offers two interface views: - Power User View: Best for web administrators managing their own websites. Provides a streamlined view focused on website, email, database, and file management tools for your domains. - Service Provider View: Best for hosting providers who manage customers, service plans, and reseller accounts. End users will typically see the Customer Panel, which focuses on website, email, and file management tools. Important Notes - Plesk uses port 8443 for secure (HTTPS) access. Make sure this port is not blocked by your firewall or network. - Always use https:// when accessing Plesk. Using http:// will not work. - If you see a browser security warning about an untrusted certificate, you can safely proceed. This is common with self-signed SSL certificates on hosting servers. - Your hosting provider controls which features and tools are available to you. If a tool is missing, contact your provider. Troubleshooting Page does not load (connection timed out): - Ensure you are using https:// and port :8443. - Check if your firewall or antivirus is blocking the connection. - Try from a different network (some workplace networks restrict non-standard ports). - Contact your hosting provider to verify the server is running. "Login failed" error: - Double-check your username and password. Both are case-sensitive. - Make sure Caps Lock is off. - Reset your password via your hosting provider if you have forgotten it. Browser shows "Your connection is not private": - Click Advanced → Proceed to site to continue. This warning appears because the server uses a self-signed SSL certificate. - This is safe for Plesk login — your data is still encrypted. Related Guides - Dashboard overview - Reset your password - Update profile settings

Plesk Dashboard Overview and Navigation

After logging in to Plesk, you will see the dashboard — your central hub for managing websites, email, databases, and more. This guide explains the main areas of the Plesk interface so you can navigate confidently. The Dashboard When you first log in to Plesk, the dashboard displays a summary of your hosting environment: - Websites and Domains: A list of all your domains and websites. Each domain card shows its status, SSL certificate status, and quick action buttons. - Quick actions: Common tasks like adding a domain, setting up email, or installing an application are available directly from the dashboard. The Left Navigation Menu The sidebar on the left organizes all Plesk tools by function: - Websites & Domains: Add and manage domains, subdomains, domain aliases, SSL certificates, DNS settings, and web hosting configuration. - Mail: Create and manage email accounts, set up email forwarding, configure spam filtering, and access mail settings. - Files: A web-based file manager for uploading, editing, and managing files on your website. - Databases: Create and manage MySQL databases and database users. - Applications: Install and manage web applications (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) from the application catalog. - Statistics: View disk usage, traffic statistics, and web analytics for your websites. - Extensions: Browse, install, and manage Plesk extensions (additional features and tools). - Users: Add and manage additional user accounts that can log in to Plesk. - Account: View your subscription details, resource usage, permissions, and personal information. The Top Bar - Search bar: Type any keyword (domain name, setting, tool) to quickly find what you need. - Username: Shows who is currently logged in. Click to manage your profile or switch subscriptions. - Notifications: Displays alerts about SSL certificates, updates, and system events. - Help: Access Plesk documentation and video tutorials. Understanding Subscriptions A subscription is the combination of resources (disk space, traffic, domains) and permissions assigned to your account: - Your subscription determines how many domains you can add, how much disk space you have, and which features are available. - If you manage multiple subscriptions, click your username in the top bar to switch between them. Important Notes - The available menu items may vary depending on your hosting plan and the permissions set by your provider. - If a feature or tool is not visible, contact your hosting provider — it may need to be enabled for your subscription. - Use the search bar at the top to quickly find any tool or setting without navigating through menus. Troubleshooting A menu item is missing from the sidebar: - Your subscription may not include that feature. Contact your hosting provider. - Try the search bar to locate the tool — it may be nested under a different section. Dashboard is blank or not loading: - Clear your browser cache and reload the page. - Try a different browser. - Check your internet connection. Cannot switch between subscriptions: - Click your username in the top-right corner to see the list of available subscriptions. - If only one subscription is available, you will not see a switch option — this is normal. Related Guides - Logging in - Subscriptions & resources - Search & help features

Understanding Plesk Subscriptions and Resources

A subscription in Plesk defines the resources and permissions allocated to your hosting account. Understanding how subscriptions work helps you manage your hosting plan effectively and avoid running into limits. This guide explains the key concepts. What Is a Subscription? A subscription is a set of resources and permissions provided to you by your hosting provider. When you purchase a hosting plan, a subscription is created for your account. It controls: - How many domains you can add. - How much disk space you can use. - How much monthly traffic (bandwidth) you are allowed. - How many email accounts you can create. - How many databases you can set up. - Which features you can access (SSL, PHP settings, DNS management, etc.). Viewing Your Subscription Details 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Click your username in the top-right corner of the screen. 3. Select Account from the dropdown menu. 4. Here you will see: - Subscription name and associated domains. - Resource usage: Disk space used vs. allocated, traffic used vs. limit. - Permissions: A list of operations you are allowed to perform. Checking Resource Usage 1. In the left navigation menu, click Statistics. 2. You will see detailed usage information including: - Disk usage: Total space used by websites, email, databases, and logs. - Traffic usage: Bandwidth consumed in the current billing period. - Web statistics: Visitor information (if enabled by your provider). What Happens When You Reach a Limit? - Disk space limit: You will not be able to upload files, create new email accounts, or add new databases. Existing services may continue to function but cannot grow. - Traffic limit: Your website may become temporarily unavailable until the next billing period. Contact your provider to increase your traffic allowance or purchase additional bandwidth. - Domain limit: You will not be able to add additional domains. Contact your provider to upgrade your plan. Important Notes - Your hosting provider controls all subscription limits and permissions. You cannot change these yourself. - If you need more resources, contact your hosting provider to discuss upgrading your plan. - Disk usage includes all files on your subscription: website files, email, databases, and backups. Troubleshooting "You have exceeded your resource limits" message: - Go to Statistics to see which resource has reached its limit. - Free up disk space by removing old files, emptying mailboxes, or deleting unused databases. - Contact your provider if you need to increase your limits. Cannot add a new domain: - You may have reached your domain limit. Check your subscription in Account. - Contact your provider to upgrade your plan if needed. Related Guides - View your resource usage - Dashboard overview - Add a domain

How to Change Your Plesk Password and Profile Settings

You can update your Plesk login password and personal information at any time. Keeping your password secure and your profile up to date is important for account security and communication with your hosting provider. Changing Your Plesk Password 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Click your username in the top-right corner of the screen. 3. Select Profile & Preferences. 4. Scroll to the Password section. 5. Enter your current password. 6. Enter and confirm your new password. 7. Click OK to save. Password Requirements Plesk enforces password strength policies. A strong password should: - Be at least 8 characters long. - Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. - Contain at least one number. - Contain at least one special character (!@#$%^&*). - Not contain your username or common dictionary words. Updating Your Profile Information 1. Click your username in the top-right corner. 2. Select Profile & Preferences. 3. Update the following fields as needed: - Contact name - Email address - Phone number - Company name - Address 4. Click OK to save changes. Changing the Interface Language 1. Click your username in the top-right corner. 2. Select Profile & Preferences. 3. Find the Interface language dropdown. 4. Select your preferred language. 5. Click OK. The interface will reload in the new language. Important Notes - After changing your password, you will need to log in again with the new password. - If your hosting provider manages your account, they may also be able to reset your password for you. - Keep your email address up to date — your hosting provider uses it for important notifications about your account. Troubleshooting Cannot save profile changes: - Some fields may be managed by your hosting provider and cannot be changed. Contact your provider if you need to update them. Password change does not take effect: - Clear your browser cache and cookies, then log in again with the new password. Forgot your password and cannot log in: - Contact your hosting provider to reset your password. Related Guides - Reset a forgotten password - Log in to Plesk - Manage additional users

How to Use the Plesk Search and Help Features

Plesk includes built-in search and help tools that make it easy to find settings, features, and documentation without navigating through multiple menus. This guide explains how to use these features effectively. Using the Search Bar The search bar is located at the top of the Plesk interface and allows you to quickly find any tool, setting, or domain: 1. Click the search bar at the top of the screen (or press Ctrl+F / Cmd+F). 2. Type a keyword related to what you are looking for (e.g., "SSL", "database", "PHP", "domain"). 3. Plesk will display matching results including: - Navigation items: Menu links to relevant pages (e.g., "Websites & Domains" for "domain"). - Domains: Your registered domains matching the search term. - Extensions: Installed or available extensions. - Knowledge base articles: Relevant help articles from Plesk documentation. 4. Click on any result to navigate directly to that page or tool. Accessing the Help Menu Plesk provides context-sensitive help and documentation: 1. Click the Help icon (question mark) in the top-right corner of the screen. 2. The help menu offers: - Online Guide: Opens the Plesk documentation page relevant to the current screen you are viewing. - Video Tutorials: Short video guides on common tasks. - About: Displays your Plesk version, build number, and license information. - Support: Links to Plesk support resources. Using Context-Sensitive Help Many pages in Plesk include inline help: - Look for info icons (i) or tooltip text next to settings and options. - Hovering over these icons will display a brief explanation of the feature or setting. Tips for Efficient Navigation - Use the search bar instead of navigating through menus — it is often faster. - The help guide changes based on the page you are currently viewing, so open it from the relevant page for the most accurate information. - If you cannot find what you need in Plesk, try searching the official Plesk documentation at docs.plesk.com. Important Notes - The search bar searches within your Plesk environment, not the entire internet. - Help articles and tutorials may reference features not available on your specific hosting plan. Troubleshooting Search returns no results: - Try a different keyword or more general term. - The feature may not be available on your subscription. Contact your hosting provider. Help page does not open: - Check if your browser is blocking pop-ups from the Plesk interface. - Try accessing the Plesk documentation directly at docs.plesk.com. Related Guides - Dashboard overview - Subscriptions & resources - Install extensions

How to Reset Your Plesk Login Password

Forgotten your Plesk login password? Here are several ways to reset it depending on your access level. Method 1: Change your password from inside Plesk If you can still log in: 1. Click your name at the top-right corner. 2. Click Edit Profile. 3. Enter your current password in Old Password. 4. Enter and confirm your new password. 5. Click OK. Method 2: Use the "Forgot Password" link 1. Open your Plesk login page (https://your-server-ip:8443). 2. Click Forgot your password? 3. Enter your registered email address and click Submit. 4. Check your inbox for a reset link and follow it to set a new password. Note: The link expires after 24 hours. Check spam if you don't see the email. Method 3: Ask your hosting provider If you're a hosting customer, contact your provider to reset your password. With Allanux Web, open a support ticket and we'll reset it promptly. Method 4: Reset via SSH (server admins only) 1. Connect via SSH as root. 2. Run: plesk bin admin --set-admin-password -passwd 'YourNewPassword' 3. Log in with username admin and your new password. Method 5: Generate a one-time login link via SSH 1. Connect via SSH as root. 2. Run: plesk login 3. Copy the IP-based URL and open it in your browser. 4. Once inside, go to your profile and set a permanent password. Resetting a customer or reseller password (admins) 1. Go to Customers (or Resellers) in the sidebar. 2. Click the customer name → Change Login Info. 3. Set a new password or click Show link to send a reset link. Important notes - Plesk panel, FTP/SSH, and email passwords are all separate. - Your WHMCS client area password is also separate from Plesk. - FTP/SSH passwords are changed under Websites & Domains → Web Hosting Access. Troubleshooting - Reset email not arriving: Check spam. Verify the email matches your Plesk account. Contact your host if server email delivery is broken. - Invalid credentials after reset: Clear browser cache. Passwords are case-sensitive. Use quotes around special characters in SSH commands. - Account locked: Wait 10-15 minutes. Admins can check fail2ban under Tools & Settings → IP Address Banning. Related Guides - Change password & profile - Log in to Plesk - Dashboard overview

How to Switch Plesk Interface Views

Plesk has two interface layouts — Power User view and Service Provider view. If your panel looks different from expected or you can't find certain features, switching views may help. Power User view A simplified interface for web developers and single-account users. Shows a flat list of Websites & Domains with no separate Customers or Resellers section. Best if you manage your own sites and don't resell hosting. Service Provider view The full interface for hosting providers and resellers. Includes Customers, Resellers, Subscriptions, and Service Plans in the sidebar. Use this if you manage websites for multiple clients. How to tell which view you're using - Power User: Sidebar shows Websites & Domains, Mail, Applications, Files. No Customers section. - Service Provider: Sidebar includes Customers, Domains, Subscriptions, Service Plans. Method 1: Switch via the Plesk interface 1. Log in to Plesk as administrator. 2. Click Change View at the bottom-left corner. 3. Select Service Provider view or Power User view. Method 2: Switch via Tools & Settings 1. Go to Tools & Settings. 2. Under Plesk Appearance, click Interface Management. 3. Select your preferred view and click OK. Method 3: Switch via SSH 1. Connect via SSH as root. 2. Power User view: plesk bin poweruser --on 3. Service Provider view: plesk bin poweruser --off Important notes - Switching views does not delete any data or settings — it only changes the interface layout. - You cannot switch to Power User if customer or reseller accounts exist. Remove them first or stay in Service Provider view. - In Power User view, only subscriptions owned by the admin are visible. Customer subscriptions won't appear. - The view switch only applies to the administrator account. - Only Web Pro and Web Host editions support both views. Troubleshooting - "Change View" missing: Your Plesk edition may not support it. Check your licence under Tools & Settings → License Management. - Cannot switch to Power User: You have existing customer/reseller accounts that must be removed first. - Domains disappeared after switching: Switch back to Service Provider view — Power User only shows admin-owned subscriptions. - Interface looks broken: Clear your browser cache and reload, or try an incognito window. Related Guides - Dashboard overview - Subscriptions & resources - Reseller dashboard

How to Manage User Accounts in Plesk

Plesk lets you create additional user accounts so team members, developers, or contractors can access specific parts of your hosting without full account access. Each user gets a username, password, and a role that controls their permissions. Creating a user role 1. Go to Users → User Roles. 2. Click Create User Role. 3. Name the role (e.g. Developer, Content Manager). 4. Set each permission to Granted or Denied. 5. Click OK. Key permissions include: manage sites, manage databases, manage DNS, manage mail accounts, upload files, install applications, configure backups, and view statistics. Creating a user account 1. Go to Users → User Accounts. 2. Click Create User Account. 3. Fill in: Contact name, Email address (used as username by default), User role, Access to subscriptions, and Password. 4. Ensure User is active is checked. 5. Click OK. Share the Plesk login URL (https://yourdomain.com:8443), username, and password with the user. Editing or suspending a user - Edit: Go to Users → User Accounts → click the user's name → make changes → OK. - Suspend: Click the user's name → Change Settings → uncheck User is active → OK. Suspended users cannot log in. - Reset password: Click the user's name → Change Settings → Show link next to Password reset link → send the link to the user. Removing a user account 1. Go to Users → User Accounts. 2. Select the checkbox next to the account. 3. Click Remove → Yes. You cannot remove your own primary account. Important notes - Role permissions are limited by your hosting plan. If your provider disabled a feature, granting it in a role won't enable it. - Changes to a role affect all users assigned to it immediately. - Users with Manage users and roles permission can change their own role — only grant this to trusted users. - Restrict Access to subscriptions to only what each user needs. Troubleshooting - User can't log in: Check that User is active is enabled. Verify username and password. If activated by email, confirm they clicked the link. - User can't see features: Check their role permissions under User Roles. If granted but still missing, the feature may be disabled at the subscription level. - Can't create more users: Your hosting plan may have a limit. Contact your provider to check. Need help? Contact our support team. Related Guides - Change your own credentials - Install extensions - Reseller-side users

How to Install Plesk Extensions as a Customer

Plesk extensions are add-on modules that bring extra features to your control panel — from SSL management and WordPress tools to SEO analysis and malware scanning. This guide explains how to find, install, and use extensions as a hosting customer. Step 1: Browse available extensions 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. Click Extensions in the left navigation pane. 3. The Extensions Catalog shows extensions organised by: - Featured — highlighted extensions. - Most Popular — highest-rated by the community. - New & Updated — recently published or updated. - Categories — grouped by type (Security, Web Development, etc.). 4. Use the search bar to find a specific extension by name. Step 2: Install a free extension If your hosting provider allows customer-level extension installation: 1. Go to Extensions. 2. Find the extension you want. 3. Click Get it free to install it. If you see a Buy button instead, the extension requires a paid licence. If the Get it free button is not available, your provider has restricted installation to administrators only — contact them to request the extension. Step 3: Use installed extensions How you access an extension depends on its type: - Some add controls directly to your Websites & Domains page (e.g. Node.js, Ruby). - Some appear under Extensions > My Extensions — click Go To Extension to open them. - Some work automatically in the background after installation. To see all installed extensions, go to Extensions > My Extensions. Popular extensions for website owners - Let’s Encrypt — free SSL certificate management and auto-renewal. - WP Toolkit — WordPress installation, updates, security hardening, and staging. - Advisor — security, performance, and SEO recommendations. - ImunifyAV — malware scanning for your website files. - SEO Toolkit — on-page SEO analysis. Important notes - Extension availability depends on your hosting provider. They control which extensions are installed and visible to customers. - Some extensions only appear in the administrator panel and are not visible to customers. - Installing or removing extensions does not affect your website files or databases. - If you rely on an extension like Let’s Encrypt, do not remove it — your certificates will stop auto-renewing. Troubleshooting Extension is not visible in the panel: - It may not be installed on the server, or your provider has restricted it to administrators. Contact your hosting provider. - Check Extensions > My Extensions — it may be installed but disabled. Extension shows an error or is not working: - Check for updates under Extensions > Updates. - The extension may require a paid licence to function. - Try a different browser or clear your cache. Cannot install an extension: - On shared hosting, installation is usually restricted to the server administrator. Contact your hosting provider to request the extension. If you need an extension installed, contact our support team. Related Guides - Reseller-side extension management - Dashboard overview - Search & help

How to View Resource Usage and Limits in Plesk

Every Plesk hosting subscription comes with allocated resources — disk space, bandwidth, email accounts, databases, and more. Monitoring your usage helps you avoid unexpected suspensions or slowdowns. Viewing your subscription overview 1. Log in to Plesk. 2. If you have multiple subscriptions, click Subscriptions in the left sidebar and select one. 3. The subscription home page displays a resource usage summary with colour-coded usage bars. Checking disk space usage 1. Go to Websites & Domains → Statistics next to your domain. 2. The Disk Space section shows total usage versus your limit, broken down by website files, mail, databases, logs, and backups. Checking bandwidth usage 1. Go to Websites & Domains → Statistics. 2. The Traffic section shows monthly usage broken down by HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and POP3/IMAP. It resets each billing period. Viewing all resource limits at once 1. Go to Account in the left sidebar. 2. The Resources section lists every limit: disk space, bandwidth, domains, subdomains, mailboxes, databases, FTP accounts, and more. 3. Items showing Unlimited have no cap. Checking email and database storage - Email: Go to Mail — each address shows its current mailbox size and limit. - Databases: Go to Websites & Domains → Databases — each database shows its current size. Tip: Old emails with attachments and bloated CMS databases are common space consumers. Important notes - Disk space includes website files, email, databases, logs, and backups. - Exceeding bandwidth may suspend your website until the next billing period. - Server backups count toward disk space — check Backup Manager if space is unexpectedly full. - Log files can grow large on busy sites — check under Logs if space is tight. Troubleshooting - Website suspended: You have exceeded disk space or bandwidth. Free up space or contact your provider to increase limits. - Disk space full but website files are small: Check email storage, database sizes, backups, and log files. - Statistics show "N/A": New subscriptions may show no data for up to 24 hours. Need help managing your resources? Contact our support team. Related Guides - Understand subscriptions - Reseller resource limits - Disk-space reports