How to Enable or Disable Shell Access in WHM

Shell Access (SSH) allows users to connect to the server via the command line. In WHM, you can easily grant or revoke SSH access for individual cPanel accounts.

Warning: SSH access provides powerful server control. Only grant it to trusted users with technical knowledge.

Step 1 – Log in to WHM

Open your browser and go to:

  1. https://your-server-ip:2087
  2. Log in with your root username and password. 

Step 2 – Locate “Manage Shell Access”

  1. In the WHM search bar (top left), type “Manage Shell Access”. 
  2. Click on Manage Shell Access from the search results. 

Step 3 – Choose the Shell Access Level

You will see a list of all cPanel accounts along with three shell options:

  • Normal Shell – Standard SSH access. 
  • Jailed Shell – Restricted SSH access with limited commands. 
  • Disabled Shell – No SSH access. 

Step 4 – Enable or Disable SSH Access

  1. Find the account you want to modify. 
  2. Select one of the options: 
    • Normal Shell → Full SSH access. 
    • Jailed Shell → Restricted SSH access. 
    • Disabled Shell → Turns off SSH access. 
  3. Changes are saved automatically. 

Step 5 – Verify the Changes

  • If enabled, the user can connect via SSH using their cPanel username and password. 
  • If disabled, the user will no longer be able to log in via SSH. 

Security Recommendations

  • Always use Jailed Shell instead of Normal Shell unless full access is required. 
  • Make sure all SSH users use strong passwords or SSH keys.

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