summary
Some people may prefer to make changes to their websites using the command line. In Plesk, it is possible to access the SSH or PowerShell command line from the Plesk graphical interface, without using an SSH client or connecting to the server via RDP.
In this topic, you will learn how to access the SSH or PowerShell prompts from the Plesk graphical interface.
## Prerequisites
To enable accessing the command line from the Plesk graphical interface, one of the two free extensions must be installed:
- (Plesk for Linux) SSH Terminal extension.
- (Plesk for Windows) PowerShell Terminal extension.
The extensions are included in the “Recommended” preset, but if one is not installed on your Plesk server, you can install it from the Extensions Catalog.
## (Plesk for Linux) Accessing the SSH Prompt
The Plesk administrator can access the SSH prompt as the `root` user from the Plesk graphical interface.
Note
You can only paste into the SSH prompt using a keyboard shortcut. The shortcut depends on your OS and browser - if “ctrl + V” does not work, try “ctrl + ins”, or “shift + ins”.
To access the SSH prompt as the `root` user:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to **Tools & Settings**, and then click **SSH Terminal** (under “Tools & Resources”).
A new SSH session for the `root` user has started. The terminal uses the `/bin/bash` shell.
It is also possible to access the SSH prompt as a website’s system user from the Plesk graphical interface.
Note
To be able to access the command line as a website’s system user, SSH access must first be enabled for that user. The **SSH Terminal** button is not visible if SSH access for the website’s system user is not enabled, even if the SSH Terminal extension is installed.
To access the SSH prompt as the system user for a website:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to **Websites & Domains**, and then locate the required domain.
3. Go to the “Dashboard” tab, and then click **SSH Terminal**.
A new SSH session for the website system user has started. The terminal uses the shell specified under “SSH access” on the website’s **Hosting** page.
Note
- The website system user’s permissions are restricted to the files and directories related to the website in question.
- If the SSH access type for the website system user is set to “/bin/bash (chrooted)”, the `/` directory will be set to the website’s Home directory, and not to the file system’s root directory.
## (Plesk for Windows) Accessing the PowerShell Prompt
The Plesk administrator can access the PowerShell prompt as the `Plesk`` ``Administrator` user from the Plesk graphical interface. The `Plesk`` ``Administrator` user is a local administrator account.
Note
You can only paste into the SSH prompt using a keyboard shortcut. The shortcut depends on your OS and browser - if “ctrl + V” does not work, try “ctrl + ins”, or “shift + ins”.
To access the PowerShell prompt as the `Plesk`` ``Administrator` user:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to **Tools & Settings**, and then click **PowerShell Terminal** (under “Tools & Resources”).
A new PowerShell session for the `Plesk`` ``Administrator` user has started.
It is also possible to access the PowerShell prompt as a website’s system user from the Plesk graphical interface.
To access the PowerShell prompt as the system user for a website:
1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to **Websites & Domains**, and then locate the required domain.
3. Go to the “Dashboard” tab, and then click **PowerShell Terminal**.
A new PowerShell session for the website system user has started.
Note
The website system user’s permissions are restricted to the files and directories related to the website in question.